Responding to Infertility: Lessons from a Growing Body of Research and Suggested Guidelines for Practice

Abstract

Infertility is a common, yet often misunderstood, experience. Infertility is an important topic for family scientists because of its effects on families; its relevance to research in related areas, such as fertility trends and reproductive health; and its implications for practitioners who work with individuals and couples experiencing infertility. In this review, we focus on common misperceptions in knowledge and treatment of infertility and highlight insights from recent research that includes men, couples, and people with infertility who are not in treatment. The meaning of parenthood, childlessness, awareness of a fertility problem, and access to resources are particularly relevant for treatment seeking and psychosocial outcomes. On the basis of insights from family science research, we provide specific guidelines for infertility practice within broader social contexts such as trends in health care, education, employment, and relationships. Guidelines are presented across three areas of application: infertility education for individuals, families, and practitioners; steps to support the emotional well-being of those affected by infertility; and understanding of treatment approaches and their implications for individuals and couples.

“In cycles of dreams, despair, and desperation:” Research perspectives on infertility specific distress in patients undergoing fertility treatments

“…These include chronic uncontrollable stress,[10116566100101102103104] increasing the duration of infertility,[104] repeated cycles of treatments and their failures,[1516171821223233103104105106] gender-specific diagnosis and distress related to it,[10116366100104] treatment-related strain,[9102147107] disturbances in daily life activities while taking treatments,[108] treatment side-effects and discontinuation[29899100101102103104105106107108109110111112] and stress-mediated biological changes. [102107113114115116117118]…”

Healthcare Policy: Federally Mandated Insurance Coverage for Infertility Treatment

“…Much of the research, advocacy, and support for infertility focuses on white, heterosexual women (Shreffler et al, 2017). Although African American, Chinese, and Latine couples have higher rates of infertility than white couples, they are less likely to seek treatment (Inhorn & Patrizio, 2018;Insogna & Ginsbury, 2019).…”

Embryo Biopsy Can Offer More Information Than Just Ploidy Status

“…Unfortunately, infertility has become increasingly stigmatized and oftentimes leads to discrimination, depression, and ostracism for patients and their spouses (Cui, 2010). Factors such as changing cultural norms (which push pregnancies to later ages), an increase in obesity, smoking, alcohol and drug use, as well as environmental pollution all play parts in lowering fertility rates; numbers of infertile individuals have quickly risen past 15% of reproductive age couples (Agarwal et al, 2015;Shreffler et al, 2017). As a result, medically assisted reproduction (MAR), and more specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF) have assumed the burden of this increasing demand -these methods are becoming an increasingly more common means to conceiving a child (Sunderam et al, 2019).…”