If you’re a woman who has ever sought medical care, especially if you were seeking care for something you couldn’t pinpoint, such as an unexplained pain, you’ve likely experienced what many describe as medical gaslighting. Even if you’re seeing a doctor for reproductive care, it’s common to experience the feeling that you’re not being heard and supported.
It’s no wonder that women seeking care for infertility — an issue that can already be highly stigmatized in our society, and that can also be detrimental to mental health and self-image — often walk out of their appointments feeling confused, hurt, and depressed.
One app that addresses mental health issues has created a new option to help.
What Is Headspace?
Headspace is a subscription app. You can try it for free, after which you’ll pay either $69.99 for a year’s access or $12.99 per month to pay as you go. A family plan is also offered, which provides six accounts bundled for $99.99 per year. However, the infertility resources they’re releasing are free for anyone.
It essentially acts as a personal mental health coach, encouraging you to carry out daily routines, meditate, and engage in other wellness activities. It includes many meditation courses, including Creativity, Dealing With Regret, Fear Of The Future, and Intimacy In Relationships.
They’ve already added several meditation courses that directly address pregnancy, miscarriage, and preparing for birth. Now, they’re adding one for women who are fighting to become mothers.
Women’s Medical Treatment Can Be Stressful
When women head for the doctor, they do so knowing that they are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed, dismissed, and denied tests and treatments. As Northwell Health writes:
“Whether it’s heart disease labeled as anxiety, an autoimmune disorder attributed to depression, or ovarian cysts chalked up to ‘“’normal period pain,’”’ many women’s health issues are likely to be misdiagnosed or dismissed by doctors as something less critical.”
That institution interviewed specialists in OB/GYN, Psychology, and Neurology about these problems, with all three agreeing that there is a problem. They say it’s getting better but still worry that women wait an average of 33% longer than men for the same emergency complaints. They are often treated as ‘hysterical’ when they exhibit distress and can frequently be misdiagnosed or have their complaints ignored.
Medical Attitudes In IVF
When it comes to infertility treatments, women experience similar behavior. They may see their concerns dismissed with phrases like, “Why are you worried? You’re so young!” or “Just lose a little weight,” one fertility coach shares at The IVF Warrior. She describes those mothers who lose pregnancy after pregnancy, hearing responses like, “At least you can get pregnant!”
She’s been exploring why these responses fire off so easily, ranging from simple poor bedside manner to a defense mechanism on the part of the medical professional, but says that thanks to feedback, she’s come to realize these tropes are not encouraging, but demoralizing.
The Headspace Role
Headspace is an app. It can’t do fertility tests, give injections, or prescribe medication.
However, it can fill the gap left open by the professionals who do the above. Headspace hopes to help you through the emotional aspects while your doctor helps you through the medical ones. A press release describes the new program:
“In response to growing demand for fertility-centered mental health resources, Headspace partnered with fertility experts from Spring Fertility to create “Support For Your Fertility Journey.” The new content collection features guided meditations and mindfulness exercises, audio conversations, and a docu-style video series with practical insights…”
What Are Their Credentials?
You may wonder whether Headspace has the background to provide information on fertility, which can be a specialized branch of medicine and a unique set of experiences. That’s why they’re partnering with Spring Fertility, a major fertility treatment organization with facilities in Portland, New York, and San Fransisco, among other cities.
Spring Fertility has worked together with Headspace to create the content and endorses it on their website (where you can also find out more about fertility treatment options, as well as causes of infertility, or connect with a provider).
Okay, So Where’s The New Content?
You’ll start here, then check out more on the Headspace app. The docu-series includes video information on the following topics, according to the press release:
- “Listening to the mind and body: Learn mindfulness and compassion techniques to help cultivate trust in your body and tenderness for your journey.
- Coping with feelings of isolation: Discover ways to navigate loneliness and isolation while remembering you are part of a shared human experience.
- Holding space for grief: Practice ways to acknowledge and normalize the losses that can be part of a fertility journey without being swept into shame and guilt.
- Uncertainty around fertility: Develop ways to build resilience, patience, and strength through your fertility journey.
- Self-care and fertility: Lean into self-care practices that provide moments of respite from the emotional and physical overwhelm.”
