Reproductive Mental Health: Support for PCOS, PMDD, Hysterectomies and More
Reproductive-based medical issues are complex: Take, for example, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a hormone imbalance that causes a variety of symptoms, including irregular periods and ovulation, excess weight, acne, and abnormal hair growth. PCOS often causes fertility issues, and some women only receive a diagnosis after they experience challenges with conception.
But these physical issues often intersect with emotional and psychological challenges: whether it’s something like embarrassment about excess hair, frustration around losing weight, or feelings of despair or guilt around trying to conceive.
The same goes for other reproductive-based medical issues, including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), hysterectomies, or medical termination: The hormonal surges create real challenges that medical providers simply are not equipped to address.
That’s where a specialized therapist comes in: We understand the ways that these issues can manifest and have a series of approaches to help. For example, women with PMDD can feel truly, truly terrible before their period starts – but have their concerns dismissed as “just” a mood swing or “just” PMS.
When you sit down with one of our therapists, we already know the medical background; you don’t have to catch us up or search for justifications. We can dive right in and start figuring out ways to process and address the parts of your condition that are negatively impacting your life. And for the parts of your condition that fall outside the realm of our expertise, we can connect you with referrals – an obstetrician or reproductive psychiatrist, a functional medicine expert to look at hormones, or a coach who can help with adopting practical lifestyle strategies to support your well being.
The way our current healthcare system is set up, it can feel like people with reproductive disorders slip through the cracks. I want to tell you, there’s space for you. We can help you find a place where you feel like yourself.