Reproductive Mental Health
Reproductive mental health refers to the emotional well-being of women from first menstruation (menarche), conception, pregnancy, and postpartum periods thru menopause. Perinatal and postpartum mental health may be defined as separate but highly related specialties. There may be many challenges and stressors that women experience related to reproductive mental health such as premenstrual conditions, fertility challenges, and engaging in reproductive assisted technologies, such as IVF, infertility following pregnancy (secondary infertility) diagnoses such as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and so on.
Mood and anxiety symptoms and conditions, as well as psychiatric disorders, may develop as a result of significant stressors related to a woman’s reproductive health and functioning as well as possible shifts in biological functioning that create distress.
If you experience:
- PCOS and other health conditions impacting fertility
- Infertility diagnosis
- Fertility difficulties
- Secondary infertility
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or premenstrual exacerbation (PE) of mental health
- Assisted reproductive technologies
- Sterility or fertility concerns with a partner
- Pregnancy or postpartum mood and anxiety concerns
- Pregnancy and/or infant loss
Consider connecting with specialized support in processing your reproductive story and gaining specialized tools to improve your mental health.