Reproductive psychiatry focuses on supporting people through reproductive concerns like pregnancy and childbirth. It can also help with conditions related to the female reproductive system.
A provider who specializes in reproductive psychiatry can help you manage mental health symptoms in a way that’s safe for you and your fetus.
It might be hard to find a reproductive psychiatrist locally, so online platforms can help you connect with the right support.
Navigating the emotional highs and lows of fertility, pregnancy, and new parenthood can be overwhelming. For many, mental health support before, during, and after pregnancy is essential. That’s where reproductive psychiatrists come in. These specialists focus on the mental health needs that can come up during your reproductive years.
Unlike general psychiatrists, reproductive psychiatrists have training in how certain mental health conditions and medications interact with hormonal shifts, pregnancy, fetal development, and breastfeeding. They work closely with patients to manage symptoms in a way that’s safe and supportive for both the parent and baby.
If you’re trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or adjusting to life with a newborn, a reproductive psychiatric provider can help.
Reproductive concerns a psychiatrist can help with
Reproductive psychiatrists can support any stage of the pregnancy and childbirth journey, including:
Fertility and conception
Pregnancy
Pregnancy loss
Childbirth
Postpartum mental health (early months)
Reproductive psychiatric providers often work with new parents in the first few months after childbirth. But they tend to focus more on the reproductive journey than parenting issues. Perinatal psychiatrists focus more on postpartum mental health.
Reproductive psychiatric providers focus on how medications affect pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some medications aren’t safe for pregnant people and their fetuses. So if you're pregnant (or hoping to be), it's important to work with a psychiatrist who specializes in these issues.
These mental health providers can help with many specific mental health concerns that may arise during the reproductive years. Although the journey to conceiving and birthing a baby can be exciting, it can also bring a lot of stress — even if everything goes smoothly.
Some mental health concerns during this time can include:
Difficulties with fertility and self-blame
Hormonal-related mood changes
Relationship challenges
Safe treatment for pre-existing mental health conditions
Postpartum depression and anxiety
The emotional impact of miscarriage or stillbirth
Other times, reproductive psychiatrists can work with people assigned female at birth — whether they decide to have kids or not — who may have health concerns specific to their sex. These might include:
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: This type of depression only affects people with menstrual cycles.
Endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome: Not only are these conditions painful, but they can also have an impact on your mental health.
Menopause: This can cause hormonal changes that may lead to new mental health symptoms, like increased anxiety.
Unfortunately, there’s little training on the specific, sex-related psychiatric challenges women face. But a reproductive psychiatrist may offer you the specialized care you deserve.
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What happens in reproductive psychiatry sessions
Reproductive psychiatry sessions look like sessions with other types of psychiatrists. The main difference is they’re focused on the reproductive issue you’re facing.
A typical session might include:
Building trust: Trust and comfort are important parts of the therapeutic process. A positive relationship makes it easier to address the sensitive topics that might come up.
Assessment and diagnosis: The psychiatrist will assess your current symptoms and medical history. They may make a diagnosis if necessary or helpful. This helps them to create a treatment plan that takes your individual needs into account.
Medication management: The psychiatrist may prescribe or adjust medications to manage mental health symptoms. They’ll consider any risks associated with pregnancy or breastfeeding. They might weigh the benefits of the medication against potential risks. Because of these risks, your psychiatrist may request more frequent follow-ups to ensure everything is OK.
Referrals: The psychiatrist can refer you to other specialists, like obstetricians, gynecologists, or therapists who have expertise in specific reproductive health concerns.
Finding the right reproductive psychiatrist
Ideally, every psychiatric provider could treat reproductive issues because all psychiatric providers have training on providing perinatal care to women. However, there’s a lack of research and knowledge in this subspecialty of psychiatry. The author of one peer-reviewed paper wrote about today’s “significant lack of education on the clinical art of minimizing a pregnancy’s exposure to both psychiatric illness and psychiatric medications.”
This lack of training and education could make it harder to find a reproductive psychiatric provider in your area. But these tips can help you get connected with the right provider.
Ask your insurance company. Check if they cover reproductive psychiatry services. You can also see if any providers with this specialty are listed on their provider panel.
Get a referral from your OB-GYN or primary care provider. Your doctors can recommend a psychiatric provider with experience in this area.
Use online platforms. While you might not find a specialist in your local area, online psychiatry platforms let you choose from providers in your entire state.
Ask potential psychiatrists about their experience. Because reproductive psychiatry is an informal specialization, not all providers who have knowledge in this area may refer to themselves as such. So if you find a psychiatrist that you're interested in working with, ask them about their expertise in reproductive issues. They may have the right expertise without advertising it.
Challenges someone might face when navigating fertility treatment or early pregnancy are anxiety, mood changes, and hormonal shifts that can occur with the new season of life. Psychiatric care can address anxiety or mood symptoms with medications to help you feel more stabilized.
Halee Fullerton, PMHNP-BC
Clinical reviewer
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Navigating the challenges of reproductive health can be exhausting. This is especially true if you already live with pre-existing mental health conditions. It’s essential to work with someone who understands the complexities of both your mental and physical well-being. A reproductive psychiatrist can make sure your mental health needs are addressed while also keeping both you and the fetus safe.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Saya Des Marais
Saya graduated with her Master in Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in mental health from the University of Southern California in 2010. She formerly worked as a therapist and motivational interviewing trainer in community clinics, public schools, mental health startups, and more.
Her writing has been featured in FORTUNE, GoodRX, PsychCentral, and dozens of mental health apps and therapy websites. Through both her clinical work and her personal OCD diagnosis, she’s learned the importance of making empathetic and accurate mental health content available online.
She lives in Portland, Oregon but you can find her almost just as often in Mexico or in her birthplace, Tokyo.
Halee Fullerton, PMHNP-BC
Halee is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with experience treating children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked in outpatient community health with children/adolescents as well as inpatient substance use disorder treatment. She currently sees patients via outpatient telehealth. Before becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she worked in emergency rooms, medical-surgical units, long-term care facilities (including Alzheimer/dementia units) and the intensive care unit.
She chose a career in mental health because she wanted to help people and to contribute to breaking down stigma around mental health. She is especially passionate about working with people who are navigating substance use disorders, depressive disorders, and anxiety/trauma-related disorders. She has three labradoodles that she adores.
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