Open AccessA Multicase Study Exploring Women’s Narratives of Infertility: Implications for Counselors
Author(s) -
Staci L. Born,
Christin L. Carotta,
Kristine Ramsay-Seaner
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3510
Subject(s) - infertility , childlessness , coping (psychology) , narrative , fatalism , psychology , shame , gynecology , social psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , fertility , population , pregnancy , genetics , linguistics , philosophy , environmental health , theology , biology
Infertility affects 6.7 million women in the United States (Chandra, Copen, & Stephen, 2013). Women’s experiences with infertility are not only influenced by biological health factors, but also by social, cultural, and personal variables. Given the prevalence and complexity of infertility, additional research is needed to further examine the nuances of women’s experiences. The purpose of this multicase study, as informed by four individual cases, was to explore how women construct their infertility narratives. Review of reflective journals found five common elements: (1) Emotional Rollercoaster, (2) Mind-Body (Dis)Connection, (3) Secret Identity, (4) Supportive vs. Constrained Communication Patterns, and (5) Fatalistic- vs. Agency-Oriented Coping. Increasing our understanding of the whole experience of infertility, beyond the biological diagnosis, is essential to decreasing stigma and increasing the quality of healthcare services available for women.