Trying to conceive is no walk in the park. In fact, sometimes it feels like you’re stuck in the park, after-dark, and completely isolated from people 🙃

I get it. The rollercoaster of emotions between IVF cycles, doctors appointments and absolute information overload can make it feel like you’re swinging between hope and despair every month.

And what’s more? Everything is seemingly resting on your shoulders, month after month. That seems like more than anyone should be expected to deal with.

Here’s the good news…

You’re not alone.

At least 1 in 6 urban Indian couples (~27.5 million couples) are going through the exact same journey with you. And our job at Arva, is to make sure you have the information, tools, resources and support system to build your family #OnYourTimeline. 

That starts with reimagining how much control you have on the situation.

What if you were the CEO of your own fertility journey?

Cognitive reframing is a psychological technique used to understand and rethink the way a situation, and our responses to it are seen. It’s like when you’re a kid and your mum tries to trick you into taking a nap by encouraging you to “rest your eyes”.

Working as Arva’s CEO has really taught me how to tap into my “business brain” as I like to call it. And as a woman, it’s been an incredibly empowering experience. I’m learning how to plan, control and assert decisions in my life like never before. 

Applying the same change in mindset, especially about your fertility journey can make a lot of the decisions that come with it feel more manageable. So how can you get started?

• See the bigger picture

  Have you seen those big fat reports that businesses come out with year after year? No matter what the year actually looked like for them, the story in the report is always positive because they focus on the action, not the outcome.
  
  With fertility and conception, the result of your efforts is never up to you. But the things that can be controlled can be managed well (like your choice of doctor, or if you’re exercising). Bonus points for already having found us at Arva 🤎
  
  

• Always ask Why

  Us CEOs never blindly accept advice. We ask why. We question the facts, authority, and plans presented to us. You have agency, so don't hesitate to dig deep until you understand every single little detail. To feel confident, you must be informed.
  
  

• Find your Dream Team

  Trust me, there isn’t a CEO in the world who does everything themselves. Why should we be any different? Assembling a team of supportive people whether that’s family, friends, doctors, therapists, wellwishers and us (duh!), can be incredibly empowering. Especially if you trust them to handle things for you. Think of it as ‘reassigning’, not so much delegating.
  
  

  • Where do I start?
    As always, friends and family in your city, and that includes us. So we’ve put together our list of community-vetted doctors for you here. Before any kind of treatment, it’s always a good idea to get at least 2 opinions.

    
    

  • What should I look for in a doctor?
    Remember, you’re hiring for a role. So what does the JD look like? Highly skilled, dedicated, willing to strive to find personalised treatment plans and diagnoses for you — that seems standard. What about excellent communication? Or a good network of labs/facilities? Make a list, and then be flexible like Seema Aunty says.
    
    

Remember, you’re more than just an egg, or sperm, or a baby-making machine. You’re doing something stressful and it’s normal to be overwhelmed by everything! If that doesn’t convince you well then, research has also shown that lifestyle changes that promote wellness and reduce stress, are the ideal conditions for peak fertility, pregnancy and the child’s health. 

So take a deep breath, put your business brain on and get to work. From one CEO to another, you’re already owning it.