Phenomenological Study of the Experience of Infertility in Romanian Patients: the Female Perspective

Abstract

The subjective experience of infertility, the emotions, thoughts and problems stated in the patients' narratives show that the psycho-social impact of infertility is real, and patients need permanent support, the recent qualitative studies suggest. The present paper explores the patients' experiences with a diagnosis of female or male infertility from the perspective of patients undergoing IVF to become pregnant. The sample included 17 participants, patients of a private reproductive health and fertility clinic in Iasi, Romania. Patients were interviewed based on a semi-structured interview guide to obtain information about the infertility experience, from diagnosis to IVF procedures, regardless of the therapeutic approach. The data was enriched through observation notes. The data obtained were analyzed from a qualitative perspective, with a phenomenological approach, to describe and interpret the experience of infertility from the patient's perspective to understand and deepen the diagnosis's effect on personal, social and couple life. Six theme clusters emerged from the collected data related to the perceived definition of maternity, the personal infertility story, the array of identified emotions, couple dynamics, perceived social support and coping strategies. The body of literature gives increased interest to the biomedical aspect of infertility. However, its completion with information related to the patient's life context and the meanings attributed to it provides relevant data for therapeutic success.