Does Your Relationship Need Reviving?

The experiences of infertility and its treatment can pack a wallop that may cause the best relationship to deteriorate.

Sharon Covington, MSW, LCSW-C says there are a few red flags you can look for in your own relationship. Below are indicators that it's time for counseling:

1. If you find you are "stuck," having difficulty making decisions together regarding treatment, and feeling differently about what course of action you should take.
2. You have become isolated from family and friends because it is too difficult to be around them, and you rely solely on your partner for support.
3. You are arguing more, and finding less joy in being together.
4. Having a baby has become the sole focus in your relationship, and you have forgotten what brought you together in the first place.
5. You only have sex for procreation and no longer have it for recreation.
6. You feel like your partner doesn't understand you, and you have found a friendship with someone of the opposite sex (for example, a work associate) who does.

Covington, the Director of Psychological Support Services for Shady Grove Fertility, sums up, "In short, if people go into trying to have a baby with 'cracks' in their marriage, infertility will make it worse. If they have a good foundation and strong relationship, it will likely make it better."

Here's the good news that Covington wants to convey -- "Research has shown that many couples find infertility makes their marriage stronger and teaches them life-long skills about dealing with communication, disappointment, and troubles. Infertility may be the first problem they face in their relationship, but it will not be the last, and they will learn ways to deal with adversity that carry them through other hard times."