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Understanding psychological health of infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive therapy: In-depth interviews with infertile women
D. Subramani,
Published in Medwell Journals
2018
Volume: 13
   
Issue: 10
Pages: 3606 - 3609
Abstract
Fertility is highly valued in most cultures and the wish for a child is one of the most basic of all human motivations. For women, pregnancy and motherhood are developmental milestones that are highly emphasized by our culture. When attempts to have a child fail, it can be an emotionally devastating experience. Such experience tends to create psychological imbalance in the individual in emotional, cognitive, behavioural and social factors. The imbalance, henceforth, affects the family health. The current study aims to understand the psychological health of infertile patients who are in treatment (assisted reproductive therapy). The research design used in the study is exploratory research design and purposive sampling method. The sample includes 20 infertile patients undergoing ART. Data was collected using in depth interview method and analysed using grounded theory method. The study was conducted in the assumption that childless infertile Indian women face many emotional and social problems pertaining to self, family and society. The study explored emotional, cognitive, social, relational and behavioural aspects of infertility. In the study, 60% of the participants were women and 40% couples (both husband and wife). Almost 80% of the women were emotionally broken during the interview which was also a limitation for collecting the required data. Results indicate that childless women tend to compare themselves with other pregnant women and kids and end up with feelings of low self worth, self hatred and lack of interest in life. Wanting to kill loneliness, enjoy parenthood and to bring a companion for the first child are the motivation factors for considering assisted reproductive therapy. The 90% couples consider treatment after the second year of their marriage. Considering counselling and psychological support as part of assisted reproductive therapy may enable them to gain emotional stability in dealing with social challenges of infertility. © Medwell Journals, 2018.
About the journal
JournalJournal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
PublisherMedwell Journals
ISSN1816949X