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Chapter 1 - Collaborative Reproductive Healthcare Model

A Patient-Centered Approach to Medical and Psychosocial Care

from I - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2022

By
Sharon N. Covington  and
G. David Adamson
Edited by
Sharon N. Covington
Sharon N. Covington
Affiliation:
Shady Grove Fertility, Rockville, MD
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Summary

Extraordinary reproductive technologies are continuing to evolve for people needing medical assistance to have a child, which are replete with complex psychosocial issues. Optimal patient care involves the collaboration of numerous healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, laboratory scientists, administrative staff, as well as counselors) working together to provide reproductive medical services. This chapter provides a biopsychosocial model for the medical and psychosocial assessment and treatment of individuals and couples seeking reproductive medical assistance. Beginning with an overview of infertility and reproductive physiology/pathophysiology, evaluation and treatment are discussed from a collaborative perspective of medical and psychosocial management. All aspects of reproductive medical care are presented from the lifestyle choices to assisted reproductive technologies including IVF, gamete donation and gestational surrogacy. The complex psychological challenges of patients dealing with significant medical conditions and the consequences of invasive medical procedures, coupled with treatment failures and loss are examined. In addition, a collaborative approach to decision-making in treatment and family building alternatives is discussed. The chapter also serves as a springboard to topics in the second edition of Fertility Counseling covering therapeutic approaches, assessment and preparation in assisted reproduction, addressing the needs of diverse of populations, practice issues, and special topics on pregnancy loss, reproductive trauma and resiliency, postpartum adjustment, and the pregnant therapist.

Keywords

reproductive medical careevaluationreproductive treatmentassisted reproductive technologyinfertilitypsychologicalpsychosocialfertility counselingcounseling
Type
Chapter
Information
Fertility Counseling: Clinical Guide , pp. 1 - 30
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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