Supporting the Heart and Mind: Navigating Fertility and Mental Health in Military Families
Every fertility journey is unique. It is shaped not just by biology, but by emotion, circumstance, timing, and often, a host of logistical challenges that can feel overwhelming. For military families, the complexity of this path is compounded by frequent relocations, deployments, and a life of service that often leaves little room for personal planning. And yet, thousands of service members and their partners pursue family-building every year, navigating fertility treatment with determination, resilience, and hope.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Cryoport Systems spoke with the Military Family Building Coalition (MFBC) and Thallo Health to explore how mental and emotional wellness intersect with reproductive care, and how together, we can help ease the burden for military families and all those walking the challenging road to parenthood.
“Military families often face complex logistical challenges, but the emotional toll of navigating fertility treatment while serving our country is just as significant. We’re proud to partner with organizations who support not just the journey, but the whole person,” says John Condon, Senior Director of Business Development for Reproductive Medicine at Cryoport Systems.
A Different Kind of Mission: Military Life and Fertility Challenges
Active-duty service members and their families face stressors that most civilians never encounter. From long periods of separation and frequent relocations to deployments in unfamiliar countries, the military lifestyle creates a unique set of challenges for those trying to grow their families.
Kendall Adler, Director of Clinical Operations at the Military Family Building Coalition, explains, “Active-duty service members are often separated for extended periods from their partner. When trying to conceive, this separation can result in mental health challenges or compound them, especially if a couple is going through IVF and one partner is not available to attend medical appointments or procedures.”
The emotional complexity is often heightened by uncertainty. Relocations, known as Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, may occur mid-treatment. Families must contend with transporting embryos, navigating unfamiliar fertility clinics, and managing care across different time zones and healthcare systems.
“A PCS often presents the logistic challenge and high cost associated with moving embryos to a new duty station,” says Adler. “And for couples undergoing IVF while stationed overseas, additional stressors include language barriers and unfamiliar legal parameters.”
Cryoport Systems helps alleviate some of these burdens through its specialized logistics services designed to safely transport reproductive materials between clinics. The company’s Chain of Compliance® standard ensures traceability, condition monitoring, and quality at every step of the journey, giving families peace of mind during a deeply personal and vulnerable time.
Mental Health is an Essential Part of the Journey
Fertility struggles can be emotionally taxing for anyone. But in the military, where the culture emphasizes resilience and self-reliance, the emotional toll can go unspoken or unsupported.
“Mental health support specific to fertility challenges is especially important if a couple experiences loss while geographically separated,” Adler shares. “It’s critical that we provide resources to help families manage not just the logistics, but also the emotional aspects of family building.”
Andrea Bryman, President & CEO at Thallo Health, echoes that sentiment. “Mental health and emotional wellness are deeply intertwined with the fertility journey, particularly when third-party reproduction, such as the use of egg or sperm donors, gestational carriers, or embryo donation, is involved,” she says.
Bryman works with individuals and couples to help them explore grief over the loss of a genetic connection, navigate anxiety about disclosure to future children, and manage the emotional vulnerability that comes with entrusting someone else with a piece of their family-building process.
Her goal? To build emotional resilience.
“Fertility and third-party reproduction involve unique psychological, ethical, and relational dynamics that require specialized understanding. Counseling helps ensure that everyone involved is emotionally prepared and that choices are made with clarity, compassion, and informed consent,” says Bryman.
Finding Support and Building Community
For military families feeling overwhelmed, Adler urges them to reach out. “We suggest utilizing resources available for support, like the Military Family Building Coalition. Our partnerships with Cryoport Systems and Thallo Health allow us to provide comprehensive support, from logistics to mental health services.”
These partnerships create a holistic approach to care, helping service members remain focused on their missions while pursuing their dreams of building a family. Cryoport Systems provides not only physical transport of reproductive materials, but also emotional reassurance.
“Knowing that your embryos or other reproductive materials are handled with the highest standard of care makes a world of difference,” says Condon. “It reduces anxiety and allows families to focus on what truly matters.”
Bryman encourages individuals and couples to proactively care for their mental health during fertility treatment. “Build a strong support system through trusted friends, family, support groups, or counseling. Set boundaries on when and how to share updates. And nurture your relationship by creating space for joy and connection outside of the fertility process.”
In other words: you are not alone, and there is strength in asking for help.
The Role of Employers and Communities
While service members navigate both duty and personal aspirations, communities, employers, and healthcare providers have a role to play as well.
“They can better support military families by adapting resources and programming to uniquely support the military lifestyle,” Adler says. “That includes innovation in care delivery, such as telehealth, and leveraging private sector partnerships to improve continuity of care.”
This is especially critical as the military family-building community continues to grow and evolve. Cryoport Systems and its partners are advocating for better access, tailored services, and improved outcomes for every family, no matter where they are stationed.
“It’s not just about transporting materials from point A to point B,” says Condon. “It’s about enabling a dream. Every shipment represents a story, a family, a future. We take that responsibility seriously.”
Hope on the Horizon
The path to parenthood is rarely linear, and for military families, it often comes with added twists and turns. But through compassion, innovation, and community, we can help lighten the load.
Mental Health Awareness Month offers a powerful reminder: taking care of mental and emotional wellbeing is not a luxury, it’s a necessity, especially during life-changing journeys like fertility treatment. With the right support, military families can pursue their dream of building a family with strength, clarity, and hope.
“Supporting military families isn’t just about logistics,” says Condon. “It’s about enabling the outcome, and honoring the heart and courage it takes to get there.”
