Denmark faces mental health support gaps for fertility patients amid rising awareness

Experiencing involuntary childlessness and undergoing fertility treatments can be mentally taxing, involving injections, hormones, and the risk of miscarriages. Lene Vangsted, a patient from Vrå, emphasizes the irreplaceable pain of losing a pregnancy, stating, “I will always carry it with me.” However, public fertility clinics in Denmark often lack a consistent offering of psychological support. This gap has prompted several organizations and patients to take action.

Lene and her partner Glenn have been in fertility treatment for a year and have endured two miscarriages. Choosing to pay for psychological help out of pocket, Lene explains, “There is no one to support us in this process where the uncertainty, shame, grief, and helplessness can be overwhelming.”

Patients at many clinics are commonly referred to a hospital chaplain, a volunteer organization, or their general practitioner for psychological support when they express a need for help. Organizations like Fertility and Loss and Fertility Care Center offer courses and counseling. However, these organizations report being overwhelmed by requests for assistance.

Ninna Koefoed, chair of the organization Ro, highlights the emotional rollercoaster of trying to start a family and the need for attention to mental well-being during this journey. Two clinics currently offer some professional mental health support, but the issue remains largely unaddressed across the sector.

Karin Friis Bach, chair of the healthcare committee in the Danish Regions, acknowledges the need for psychological support in fertility treatments but notes that funding remains a barrier. Meanwhile, Health Minister Sophie Løhde states that accessing psychological help typically requires a referral from a general practitioner, although she is open to integrating psychological support into existing treatment options.