Empowerment and Sense of Adequacy in Infertile Couples: A Fundamental Need in Treatment Process of Infertility - A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Many Iranian couples are suffering from infertility, and their needs have remained unexplored thus far; therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the infertile couples’ needs and experiences during diagnosis and different stages of infertility treatment. Specific research question included: What are infertile couples’ viewpoints and perceptions about their needs in treatment process of infertility? Researchers used a qualitative design, based on a content analysis approach to analyze in-depth unstructured interviews conducted with seventeen infertile couples. The participants’ needs were categorized into five categories. All five categories had one theme in common which was identified as “empowerment and sense of adequacy” as a fundamental need during diagnosis and treatment processes of infertility. The study findings showed that the under-studied fertility care centers were not patient-centered; and patients’ needs were not recognised appropriately. Perhaps, addressing patients’ needs and expectations is the first step toward more paying attention to infertile couples and empowering them.

“The worst time of my life”: Treatment‐related stress and unmet needs of women living with infertility

“…Prior research has shown only half of infertile couples in the US are able to afford treatment (Inhorn & Patrizio, 2015;Kessler et al, 2013), with little progress for the uninsured or underinsured (Berger et al, 2013). Financial burden may be a main factor that contributes to treatment delay or dropout (Mosalanejad et al, 2013;Zargham-Boroujeni et al, 2014). One of our participants poignantly said, "It's not a 'want.'…”

“…In addition to the challenges of treatment, infertility represents a life crisis for many women and requires psychological, emotional, and spiritual care (Zargham-Boroujeni et al, 2014). Infertility can contribute to various negative psychological sequelae including isolation, frustration, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, guilt, and feelings of worthlessness, failure and inadequacy (Hasanpoor-Azghdy et al, 2014;Hocaoglu, 2018).…”