THE COUPLE – PRESENT
At the present, specialized infertility clinics exist where couples are invited to attend together for their appointments. The joint interviews can provide an extra dimension in the realm of differential diagnosis if the interactions between the couple are noted. Often it will be the first time that these two individuals have been seen together. There are many scenarios that give insight into the two separate sides of the relationship, and the difficulties within it, that might well go unnoticed or ignored in the traditional medical models of treatment.
Mr and Mrs B. attended their first appointment anxiously together, but Mr B. had to keep retiring to the car park during the hour-long discussion because he felt faint in hospitals. Mrs B. apologised profusely for him and protected him from any further appointments. Many months later during treatment when she was obviously putting on a brave face at the appearance of yet another period, a comment about her fierce ability to protect not only her husband from his fears of hospitals, but also him and the doctors from her devastation and grief at the feared inevitable childlessness, enabled her to pour out, with tears and words, all her anger at the situation. The clinic counsellor was then able to visit them at home and have an open discussion with them both. They hope to resume further infertility treatment after a few months of reflection.
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