A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF INFERTILITY ON WOMEN’S LIFE EXPERIENCES
ABSTRACT
About 5% of couples living in the developed world experience primary infertility (inability to have any children) or secondary infertility (inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term following the birth of one or more children). Experts once thought that only about half of all infertility cases had a physical origin, and that the rest were unexplained or the result of psychosomatic problems in women. But research indicates that most cases of infertility can be attributed to a physiological cause in the man or woman. About one-third of the time a physiological problem is identified in the woman, one-third of the time in the man, and about one-tenth of the time in both partners. In another 10% to 20% of cases (estimates vary), the basis of infertility cannot be determined.
But while the causes of infertility are overwhelmingly physiological, the resulting heartache — often exacerbated by the physical and emotional rigors of infertility treatment — may exact a huge psychological toll. One study of 200 couples seen consecutively at a fertility clinic, for example, found that half of the women and 15% of the men said that infertility was the most upsetting experience of their lives. Another study of 488 American women who filled out a standard psychological questionnaire before undergoing a stress reduction program concluded that women with infertility felt as anxious or depressed as those diagnosed with cancer, hypertension, or recovering from a heart attack.
Less research has been done on men’s reactions to infertility, but they tend to report experiencing less distress than women. However, one study found that men’s reactions may depend on whether they or their partners are diagnosed with infertility. When the problem is diagnosed in their wives or partners, men do not report being as distressed as the women do. But when men learn that they are the ones who are infertile, they experience the same levels of low self esteem, stigma, and depression as infertile women do.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Individuals who learn they are infertile often experience the normal but nevertheless distressing emotions common to those who are grieving any significant loss — in this case the ability to procreate. Typical reactions include shock, grief, depression, anger, and frustration, as well as loss of self-esteem, self-confidence, and a sense of control over one’s destiny.
Relationships may suffer — not only the primary relationship with a spouse or partner, but also those with friends and family members who may inadvertently cause pain by offering well-meaning but misguided opinions and advice. Couples dealing with infertility may avoid social interaction with friends who are pregnant and families who have children. They may struggle with anxiety-related sexual dysfunction and other marital conflicts.
There are about 40 ways to treat infertility. About 85% to 90% of patients are treated with conventional methods, including advice about timing of intercourse, drug therapy to promote ovulation or prevent miscarriages, and surgery to repair reproductive organs. Only about 3% of patients make use of more advanced assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). While medical interventions offer much-needed help and hope, studies suggest that they may also add to the stress, anxiety, and grief that patients are already experiencing from infertility itself.
Medication side effects. Drugs and hormones used to treat infertility may cause a variety of psychological side effects. For example, the synthetic estrogen clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene), frequently prescribed because it improves ovulation and increases sperm production, may cause anxiety, sleep interruptions, mood swings, and irritability in women. (These side effects have not been documented in men.) Other infertility medications may cause depression, mania, irritability, and thinking problems. Patients and clinicians may find it hard to figure out which reactions are psychological and which are caused by medications — yet identifying causes is essential for determining next steps.
Money worries. Only 15 states mandate insurance coverage for infertility treatment, and the extent of coverage varies. Costs of infertility treatments are significant. The average cost for an IVF cycle using fresh embryos, for example, is $8,158, with an additional $3,000 to $5,000 per cycle for fertility drugs. For patients who do not have insurance coverage or the means to pay for treatment, not being able to obtain treatment may contribute to feeling helpless and hopeless. Even patients with insurance coverage may find that copayments or limitations on coverage mean they must pay significant amounts out of pocket.
Choices and outcomes. Over all, infertility interventions help about half of patients become parents, with the likelihood of success decreasing with age. Patients who learn they are to become parents may be overjoyed, but also must learn to adjust to new roles and pressures — both during pregnancy and after childbirth. Women who have suffered multiple miscarriages, for example, are likely to feel anxious about whether they will be able to carry to term. Older couples may debate whether to undergo prenatal testing such as amniocentesis.
Treatment failure, on the other hand, may trigger a renewed cycle of grieving and distress. The distress may be especially severe for patients living in Western developed nations such as the United States, where the cultural assumption is that anyone who works hard and is persistent will succeed in achieving a goal.
It’s also difficult to know when to stop seeking treatment. Frequently one partner wants to end treatment before another, which can strain the relationship. Most patients need to gradually, and with great difficulty, make the transition from wanting biological children to accepting that they will have to pursue adoption or come to terms with being childless.
