The Psychology of Infertility and New Parenthood — A Conversation with Dr. Mary Riddle

"The number one reason that people drop out of fertility treatment is the psychological burden."

That powerful insight is at the heart of a recent episode of Parenting Understood, where reproductive mental health expert Dr. Mary Riddle explores the emotional realities of infertility, new parenthood, and donor conception.

Drawing from both her clinical expertise and her own fertility journey, Dr. Riddle reframes infertility as not only a medical challenge but a profound psychological crisis. She discusses why the emotional burden of fertility treatment often leads individuals to discontinue care, how partners can experience grief differently throughout the process, and why recognizing these differences is essential to maintaining connection and support.

The conversation also explores the transition into parenthood, acknowledging that even after conception, many parents experience anxiety, uncertainty, and mixed emotions during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Dr. Riddle emphasizes that feelings of ambivalence, postpartum depression, and postpartum anxiety are more common than many realize and encourages parents to seek support without shame or fear of judgment.

The episode concludes with an important discussion on donor conception, highlighting the value of having open, honest conversations with donor-conceived children from an early age to foster trust and healthy family relationships.

We are grateful to the Parenting Understood team for creating space for these meaningful conversations and to Dr. Mary Riddle for sharing her expertise and personal perspective on the importance of supporting mental health throughout the family-building journey.