Fertility and Mental Health Concerns

Fertility and mental health concerns are closely linked. Research shows that the depression levels in patients with infertility are comparable to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. Mental health contributes to direct costs in the form of medically necessary treatments and services — it’s the fourth largest source of healthcare spend in the United States — but also contributes to indirect costs such as presenteeism.
Other significant stats about mental health and fertility:
• Half of women and 15% of men said that infertility was the most upsetting experience of their lives
• Up to 40% of women struggling to get pregnant report experiencing anxiety,
depression, or both — twice the rate of mental health disorders in women who aren’t
experiencing concerns with infertility.
• Carrot’s Fertility at Work survey that found an astounding 89% said that fertility and family forming has negatively impacted their mental health.

Read more about the impact of fertility on mental health here.