What is infertility?
Infertility during reproductive years is classified as ‘a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility may occur due to male, female or unexplained factors. Treatment of infertility often involves in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other types of medically assisted reproduction.’ (HFEA 2024)
Infertility can be a result of medical intervention or medication. Infertility is also a stage of the ageing process for women when they reach the menopause and lose the ability to conceive, and for men, when they reach an age when their sperm is no longer viable to create babies. There is however a physiological gender imbalance as for women, this stage can be much earlier in the life span than men. Navigating the physiological changes brought on by loss of fertility should not be underestimated as it can cause emotional distress in the readjustment when moving to elder years.
Infertility is categorised as either ‘primary’ or ‘secondary’. Primary infertility when a pregnancy has never been achieved by a person, and secondary infertility is when at least one prior pregnancy has been achieved.
In the latest WHO (World Health Organisation) report it was estimated that approximately one in every six people of reproductive age worldwide experience infertility in their lifetime. One third being diagnosed as male infertility, one third women and the remaining third unexplained.
What is Fertility Counselling?
Fertility Counselling can benefit anyone affected by the subject of fertility as they endeavour to have a baby and the struggles that can be experienced. Counselling could be helpful for individual women and men, same sex couples and transgender people considering storing eggs and sperm.
The mental health impact of in/fertility is a key element which is often overlooked. Counselling can help within a family group for relatives and friends who need to process the impact of infertility as they support someone affected. This is particularly important for those who need to use donor gametes to create a family and the complexity this evokes.
Fertility counselling is multi-layered and relational work is implicit in the support. Navigating infertility is one of the biggest challenges an individual and couple can face. In society it can feel a natural assumption that couples will have babies, but when this is difficult or impossible it is an extremely challenging time.
Our fertility counsellor is mindful of the impact that infertility has on a couple. Whilst working with the presenting difficulty of having a baby, attention is also focused on the relationship and the impact that infertility has on each partner individually and together.
Fertility counselling can be short or longer term, depending on the needs of clients. The focus is on the emotional impact of infertility for the individual, their partner (if there is one), close family members or friends and all this encompasses. The therapeutic process supports the client to process and come to an informed choice of the path they wish to take as they navigate through potential complexities.
Our Expertise
- Dealing with the emotional impact of infertility on individuals and couples
- Coping with unexplained infertility and the inability to conceive
- Accepting and processing a diagnosis and exploring the potential for fertility treatment and the complexity this brings
- Support for relationships and the wider family
- Loss and grief counselling for early miscarriage, neo-natal death and still birth
- Emotional management of physiological and medical reasons for infertility
- Loss of fertility due to medical procedures/treatments
- Consideration of social egg freezing
- Consideration of using donor egg or sperm
- Post menopausal support and the subsequent of loss of fertility
Our Fees
£130
Fertility Counselling 60 minute Appointment
£65
Fertility Counselling 30 minute Appointment
A Very Merry Christmas from Team TEP! 🎄
While this season is filled with joy for many, we recognise it can also be a difficult time for some. Whether you’re celebrating or navigating challenges, remember to prioritise your wellbeing and be kind to yourself 💛
We wish you all moments of peace, joy and healing this holiday season 🌟
#theedinburghpractice #mentalhealth #christmas
Welcome back to another #fridaycheckin! Here’s a look back at TEP’s 2024 - a year full of growth, challenges, and incredible moments! 🎥
As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect 💭 After the Christmas festivities, take a moment to ask yourself: What went well this year? What did I enjoy? What do I want to work on for the year ahead?
Self-reflection is a powerful tool for growth, and there’s no better time than now to check in with yourself. Let’s carry those insights into a strong start for 2025 💪
#fridaycheckin #yearinreview #2024recap
🌟 Exciting news! We are thrilled to welcome Fiona Cook to The Edinburgh Practice team starting January 2025!
🤰 Fiona is a highly experienced Fertility and Relationship Counsellor with over 22 years of clinical practice. With a unique integrative approach rooted in psychodynamic and systemic theories, mindfulness, and compassion-focused therapy, Fiona supports individuals and couples navigating the complexities of fertility and relationships. She brings a wealth of expertise, including her work with the NHS, donor conception, and solo parenthood.
🙏 Her dedication to creating a compassionate, tailored space for clients is truly inspiring, and we can’t wait for her to bring her warmth and expertise to our practice.
💛 Join us in giving Fiona a warm welcome!
#FertilityCounsellor #RelationshipCounselling #TheEdinburghPractice #WelcomeToTheTeam
This Monday, ‘M’ is for Mental Clarity!
Mental clarity is essential for navigating life with focus, confidence and calm. It helps us make better decisions, manage stress and maintain emotional balance.
Mental clarity can feel like a challenge during menopause, with hormonal shifts often leading to brain fog, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. By prioritising self-care, managing stress, staying active and seeking support, including medical advice where appropriate, you can navigate this challenge with strength.
A clear mind is the foundation of a fulfilled and balanced life.
#theedinburghpractice #mentalhealth #mentalclarity
We’re back with another #fridaycheckin - and this week, it’s a Christmas Edition! 🎄✨
With just 12 days to go until Christmas, we wanted to share how we’ve sprinkled some festive cheer around The Edinburgh Practice. From twinkling lights to cozy decorations, our space is feeling extra warm and welcoming this season!
We hope our festive touches bring a smile to your face and a little extra joy to your day. Wishing you all a peaceful and cheerful lead-up to the holidays! ⭐
#TheEdinburghPractice #FestiveSeason #Christmas #MentalHealth
December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month ❄️
As the season shifts, it’s not uncommon for the darker days to affect our mood and energy. If you’re feeling off or struggling this winter, remember it’s okay to take things slow and prioritise your mental health.
Seasonal depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects one in twenty people in the UK, with men being more likely to be diagnosed with SAD than women. The exact cause of SAD is not fully understood, but it’s often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn and winter days.
🧠The main theory is that a lack of sunlight might stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus working properly, which may affect the:
😴The production of the sleepy hormone, Melatonin.
😊The production of the happy hormone, Serotonin
🕑Our body’s internal clock called our circadian rhythm.
Seasonal changes can be tough, but you don’t have to face them alone. Reach out, take care of yourself and know that it’s okay to not feel okay sometimes.
#seasonaldepression #MentalHealthAwareness #theedinburghpractice
Happy Monday! This Monday, ‘M’ is for Mental Flourishing ✨
Mental flourishing isn’t the absence of mental illness—it’s a state of thriving, feeling fulfilled, and growing despite life’s challenges. While mental illness may involve difficulties that affect daily functioning, it doesn’t mean that flourishing is out of reach. It’s possible to live with a mental health condition while still experiencing moments of growth and well-being. It’s about balance and working toward a better, more resilient mindset every day.
To find out more, check out Keyes and Westerhof’s (2009) academic paper called ‘Mental Illness and Mental Health: The Two Continua Model across the Lifespan”.
#MentalFlourishing #mentalhealth #theedinburghpractice
Welcome back to another #fridaycheckin! This Friday, Dr Alex checks in with our boundaries over the Christmas Period 🎄
🌟Setting and communicating boundaries with your friends and families over the festive period can help reduce stress and ensure you spend your time in a way that doesn’t negatively impact your wellbeing.
Dr Alex reminds us that:
1. It’s okay not to go home for the holidays.
2. It’s okay to need a break if you’re hosting.
3. It’s okay to need alone time if you’re visiting.
4. It’s okay to disengage from controversial conversations.
We encourage you to practice setting boundaries this Christmas period to give yourself the gift of feeling joyful, peaceful and empowered 🎁
#boundaries #fridaycheckin #theedinburghpractice #mentalhealth
This week is National Grief Awareness Week.
🔦 We are supporting @thegoodgrieftrust campaign, with this year’s theme being ‘Shine a Light’.
🫶 It’s important to normalise grief and make those around us aware that it’s often not something that will ever completely go away. It’s often about finding ways of coping with the grief. This week is about encouraging empathy, compassion, and support for those who are grieving, emphasising that grief if universal and often a challenging part of the human experience.
🎄 Grief can feel especially heavy during the festive season, a time often filled with memories of those we’ve lost. Let’s acknowledge the pain that can come with Christmas and offer compassion to ourselves and others. It’s okay to miss them, to feel it all, and to take the season at your own pace and do it in your own way. You may want to think of meaningful ways to remember the person, or people, you have lost this festive season.
To participate in National Grief Awareness Week, we can:
💛 Support a grieving friend
💛 Practice self-care if you are grieving
💛 Educate others - The Good Grief Trust’s website have a lot of short video clips offering support as well as sharing stories of those that have lost a loved one (https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org). Another resource is The Good Grief Project, which offer a range of different workshops for bereaved parents and siblings (https://thegoodgriefproject.co.uk)
#ShineALight #GriefAwareness #YouAreNotAlone #TheEdinburghPractice
This Monday, ‘M’ is for Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs!
Abraham Maslow was an American Psychologist who suggested that our human needs can be organised into a clear hierarchy. His theory provides valuable insight into human motivation.
The key idea is that lower-level needs such as physiological needs and safety must be satisfied before higher-level needs can become motivators. For example, if someone is not able to buy food, they are unlikely to be able to be focused on doing well at work.
From bottom to top, the levels are:
😴Physiological needs
🔒Safety and Security needs
❤️Love and Belonging
🥰Self-esteem
⭐️Self-actualisation
It is important to remember:
1. The hierarchy isn’t rigid. People can be motivated by higher-level needs even when lower-level needs aren’t fully met.
2. The theory doesn’t account for individual differences. Some people may prioritise needs differently based on their own values and experiences.
3. The hierarchy reflects an individualistic view and may not capture motivation in collectivistic cultures.
Taking care of your mental health means addressing your needs at every level!
#mentalhealth #maslowshierachyofneeds #theedinburghpractice
This Friday we are checking in with our brain health! 🧠✨
Dr Julia is here to share insights from the 2024 update to the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care. The updated study reveals that nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors throughout the lifespan.
In Midlife these include:
👂 Hearing loss
🫀High LDL cholesterol
😔 Depression
🧠 Traumatic brain injury
🛋️ Physical inactivity
💊 Diabetes
🚬 Smoking
📈 Hypertension
🩺 Obesity
🍷 Excessive alcohol
In Late life these include:
👤 Social isolation
🚗💨 Air pollution
👁️ Visual loss
Taking steps to address these risks could make a significant difference in brain health and dementia prevention!
Explore the full article here:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01296-0/abstract
Or have a look at the infographic here:
https://www.thelancet.com/pb/assets/raw/Lancet/infographics/dementia-2017/image-1721911723223.pdf
#BrainHealth #DementiaPrevention #TheEdinburghPractice
Happy Wednesday! Today we are exploring the Autistic S.P.A.C.E Framework, this novel framework outlines how we can meet the needs of autistic people across different settings.
⭐️Each letter reminds us of how we can better support and celebrate neurodiversity:
👂Respect sensory needs
🗓️ Provide predictability
💛 Embrace acceptance
🗣️ Adapt communication
🤝 Lead with empathy
Together, we can create spaces where everyone feels valued, safe and understood.
Swipe through to learn more!
#neurodiversity #autismacceptance #mentalhealth #SPACEframework #TheEdinburghPractice
⭐️Christmas Closing Dates⭐️
As we draw closer to the Christmas holiday season, we thought it would be helpful to remind you of the last date for prescription requests and our opening hours!
💊The last date for prescription requests is Wednesday 11th December - please submit any prescription requests by this date to ensure you have the medication you require whilst we are closed!
⏰ We close on Monday 23rd December at 6pm and re-open on Friday 3rd January at 9am.
💻Visit our client portal on our website to submit a prescription request.
👋 Welcome back to our Monday ‘M’ series! This week, ‘M’ is for Memories. Our memories shape more than just our past - they are a powerful tool for wellbeing in the present. Reflecting on positive memories can:
✨ Boost gratitude
✨ Inspire hope
✨ Strengthen resilience
Revisiting happy moments doesn’t just remind us of what we’re lived through, it helps us reconnect with the people, places, and feelings that make life meaningful.
Take time to relive a memory that connects you with positive emotions, it could be:
🌸 A favourite holiday
🌸 A meaningful conversation with a friend
🌸 A moment of laughter with a loved one
🌸 A compliment someone gave you
🌸 A beautiful place you have visited
💛 What’s a memory that fills your heart? Share it in the comments or hold it close today!
#HappyMemories #MomentsThatMatter #MentalWellbeing #TheEdinburghPractice
Welcome back to another #fridaycheckin! This week we are introducing our YouTube channel (@TheEdinburghPractice1)!
🎥 Head on over to our YouTube channel to watch videos about our mental health practice including videos on how to make a self-referral, our different assessment processes, the neurodiversity support we offer and meet a handful of our lovely clinicians as they speak about important mental health topics!
Don’t forget to like and subscribe! Link in bio 💛
