InviMed infertility clinics not only provide couples trying for a baby with psychological consultations, but also organise support groups. Participation in support group meetings is completely free of charge. We talk to Dorota Gawlikowska, psychologist at the InviMed Warsaw clinic, about why it is worth registering for group meetings.

In Poland, support groups are still not popular and many people associate them with AA meetings or groups for cancer patients. What can couples who have difficulties conceiving a child or maintaining a pregnancy learn from a support group?

Dorota Gawlikowska: I think above all the feeling that they are not alone and that they can meet people who are going through similar experiences and understand them best. Contrary to appearances, even today, in the age of the internet and online closed groups, to actually meet and talk to people who are willing to give up their time every week to listen, not to judge, not to advise, but to be there for us, is a great gift, very much appreciated by the participants of the meetings. This is why many of the groups I run continue to meet, either online or in what I call 'real life'. The bonds created during the meetings do not fade away and are valuable enough to be sustained even many months later.

There is no problem when, in the course of the group meetings, one pair succeeds and the other does not?

This is one of the beauties of the meetings - the participants learn to deal with the differences that surface in the group. And indeed, sometimes someone gets pregnant and someone else loses it at the same time. We experience this together and deal with the emotions that arise together, which also makes it easier for couples to experience different situations later on. In the same group, there are also people who receive IVF treatment and couples who do not want to undergo the procedure for worldview reasons. Those who want to try prenatal adoption and those who have decided to remain childless.

This enormous richness of the group in terms of its diversity has an extremely powerful effect on all participants. It broadens the scope of available knowledge about treatment methods and ways out of infertility, confronts different points of view and understanding of the situation, helps to make one's own difficult decisions. It also fosters better communication between the partners, who often just in the group begin to talk about topics that they had not discussed between themselves before.

When is the next group meeting?

The next group is already complete, but willing individuals or couples are welcome to send in their applications at any time. During the twelve-week meeting cycle of one group, we are already gathering volunteers for the next cycle, so that just after one group has finished, we can start the meetings of the next group.

Are the group's meetings for couples only?

We welcome couples to the meetings, but also men and women alone. We always encourage both partners to participate in the group, on the premise that infertility affects the couple and that being together in a group helps to deal with any difficulties experienced in the relationship. However, if this is not possible, we try to organise groups for women or men, depending on what the current demand is.

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Dorota Gawlikowska - psychologist and couples therapist, conducts psychological consultations, support groups and workshops for infertile couples, women and men at the InviMed clinic in Warsaw.

InviMed support groups

Applications for a support group can be sent in at any time. However, it is important to bear in mind that you will sometimes have to wait until a new group is able to start its cycle of meetings. Support groups at InviMed are free of charge. You are warmly invited to attend.

*** Please note that support group meetings have been suspended until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please follow the News on InviMed.co.uk.***