Infertility:Why can’t we classify this inability as disability?

Abstract

Disability is a complex phenomenon. It reflects an interaction between features of a person's body and features of the society in which he or she lives. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), lays stress on the functional as well as the structural problem of a person. All the definitions of disability also include the disorders of the reproductive and endocrine system. So infertility and impotency should also be included in the category of disability. It affects the participation in areas of life and can have a disabling affect on an individual. Like any other disability the couple has to adapt and integrate infertility in their sense of self thus infertility comes as a major life crisis. Medically, infertility, in most cases, is considered to be the result of a physical impairment or a genetic abnormality. Socially, couples are incapable of their reproductive or parental roles. On social level, infertility in most cultures remains associated with social stigma and taboo just like the social model of disability. Couples who are unable to reproduce may be looked down upon due to social stigmatisation. Infertility can lead to divorces and separation leading to a broken family life. Without labelling infertility as a disability, it is difficult for the people to access services and welfare benefits offered by the government. Infertility treatments are highly sophisticated so they are very expensive and are even not covered by insurance and government aid.In the light of all this it becomes imperative to categorise infertility as disability.

Estimating the long-term effects of in vitro fertilization in Greece: an analysis based on a lifetime-investment model

“…Infertility is a condition which, while not a direct threat to physical health, is associated with psychological distress and impaired well-being, and may even lead to divorce or social stigmatization 1. Although there is not yet a universally accepted definition of “infertility,”2 and the general public has incomplete comprehension of reproductive science terminology,3 a simple medical definition of it could be “failure to conceive following twelve months of unprotected intercourse.”4 Global estimates of infertility in couples with women of childbearing age range between 8% and 12%, meaning that it affects between 50 and 80 million people 5.…”

Managing infertility in primary care

“…The social condition of infertility (Khetarpal andSingh 2012, Van den Akker 2012) may lead to: stigma and taboo where couples are looked down upon, avoided and find it difficult to disclose to others; the effects of the condition can lead to social isolation and divorce.…”

“…While there is disagreement over whether infertility is a disease, a disability or a condition which impairs life goals (Khetarpal and Singh 2012), it is understood to be a form of disability which entails similar experiences to chronic illness (Greil 1991). The psychological distress that infertile patients may experience is also recognized within the mental health nursing literature ( (Hainsworth, Eakes et al 1994).…”

Editorial: Shining a light into an unexplored area of nursing: infertility and in vitro fertilisation

“…In many cases, infertile people continue to consider themselves infertile even when they become parents through successful IVF. The social condition of infertility (Khetarpal & Singh , Van den Akker ) may lead to stigma where couples are looked down upon and couples may be avoided. Self‐stigma may also occur as couples withdraw themselves and find it difficult to disclose to others; the combined effects of stigma and self‐stigma can lead to social isolation and divorce.…”