Dealing With The Emotional Aspects Of Choosing Donor Insemination

by Carol Frost Vercollone, LICSW

Having a baby via donor insemination (DI) can involve complex medical and emotional issues for you, your partner, and your network of family and friends. It is important to recognize and deal with these issues while you are considering donor insemination, so that your final decision will be a positive and comfortable one.

You may be reading this at a time of personal crisis, especially if you have received sudden, conclusive bad news regarding your medical diagnosis. While the process of choosing and attempting a pregnancy using DI may someday be remembered positively as part of your wonderful child's arrival, right now it may feel like a disappointing option. This is an important time to lay the emotional groundwork necessary to support your choice and to benefit your family life and your child.

If you are considering DI, you may find yourself struggling with both immediate and lifelong issues, ranging from the profound to the mundane. This is an excellent time to find a knowledgeable, objective third party to provide information about your options and to help you reach what can be some very difficult decisions. This person may be a member of your medical team, a religious leader, a RESOLVE group leader, or an infertility counselor who can help you focus on male infertility and DI issues. Short-term counseling can be key to resolving your feelings as positively and effectively as possible. You deserve support as you consider proceeding with DI.