Experiences of Infertility in British and Pakistani Women: A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

The psychosocial impact of infertility is affected by cultural factors. In this cross-cultural qualitative study we explored the experience of infertility among six women living in Pakistan and eight living in the UK. Although infertile women in the UK and Pakistan had many shared experiences related to their own desires for motherhood and the hopes of others, they also faced unique psychosocial challenges shaped by cultural context. Based on our findings, we suggest a need for further resources and networks to support women, particularly women living in cultures that allow women few fulfilling social roles other than motherhood.

Spiritual aspects of living with infertility: A synthesis of qualitative studies

“…The waiting that precedes treatment results is a period of great anxiety and expectation followed in most cases by disappointment due to an unsuccessful pregnancy. This psychological roller coaster has been early described (Dyer, ; McQuillan et al., ; Oddens et al., ) and was in line with the emotions and feelings reported in this review, for instance pain (Behboodi‐Moghadam et al., ; Benasutti, ; Chen & Landau, ; Davis & Dearman, ; Lee et al., ; Mogobe, ; Su & Chen, ; Toscano & Montgomery, ), stress (Benasutti, ; Mosalanejad et al., ; Peddie et al., ; Su & Chen, ; Toscano & Montgomery, ) and anxiety (Batool & Visser, ; Chen & Landau, ; Cipolletta & Faccio, ; Lee et al., ; Toscano & Montgomery, ). Similar to cancer patients (Ferrel, Taylor, Sattler, Fowler, & Cheyney, ), pain in involuntarily childlessness is associated with the acknowledgement of a disease capable of triggering one's sense of loss, loss of control and helplessness (Cunningham & Cunningham, ; Davis & Dearman, ; Toscano & Montgomery, ).…”

“…A multinational approach was addressed in two online studies (Cunningham & Cunningham, ; Toscano & Montgomery, ). Two articles simultaneously presented English and Pakistani participants (Batool & Visser, ) and English and Iranian individuals (Roudsari & Allan, ).…”

“…Infertility challenged many women and men to face not only a physical but also a spiritual journey in order to achieve the goal of having a child. Indeed, the majority of the participants faced hardship when dealing with this life event (Batool & Visser, ; Bell, ; Bhatti et al., ; Chen & Landau, ; Cipolletta & Faccio, ; Davis & Dearman, ; Dyer et al., ; McCarthy, ; Mogobe, ; Mosalanejad et al., ; Peddie et al., ; Peters, ; Peters et al., ; Toscano & Montgomery, ). Coping strategies aiming to adapt and transcend suffering included the development of resilience (Lee et al., ; Peters et al., ) and maintaining or regaining hope (Bhatti et al., ; Cipolletta & Faccio, ; Davis & Dearman, ; Lee et al., ; Mosalanejad et al., ; Peddie et al., ; Porter & Bhattacharya, ; Toscano & Montgomery, ).…”

“…Nevertheless, meaning in life for couples appeared to be defied in this study by unsuccessful conception, pregnancy and birth of a biological child. Furthermore, an eager wish to become a parent and undergo the transitional process was an expected outcome of adulthood and marriage (Batool & Visser, ; Cunningham & Cunningham, ; Dyer et al., ; Mogobe, ; Silva et al., ). This finding is consistent with other researchers’ statements of how motherhood is important as a transition in making existential meaning (Prinds, Hvidt, Mogensen, & Buus, ).…”

“…Similar to cancer patients (Ferrel, Taylor, Sattler, Fowler, & Cheyney, ), pain in involuntarily childlessness is associated with the acknowledgement of a disease capable of triggering one's sense of loss, loss of control and helplessness (Cunningham & Cunningham, ; Davis & Dearman, ; Toscano & Montgomery, ). Immediate effects were not only manifested physically but also in self‐identity (Batool & Visser, ; Behboodi‐Moghadam et al., ; Benasutti, ; Cunningham & Cunningham, ; Dyer et al., , ; Lee et al., ; Mogobe, ; Mosalanejad et al., ; Peddie et al., ; Silva et al., ; Su & Chen, ; Toscano & Montgomery, ). The intensive physical, emotional and spiritual endurance is such that awakens a sense of powerlessness.…”