Male Renal Transplant Recipients’ Experiences From Their Wives’ Pregnancy and Childbirth

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze male renal transplant recipients' experience with their partners' pregnancy and childbirth and to investigate their methods of nursing their condition. We performed semistructured interviews and collected data from 6 Japanese males who underwent a kidney transplant after their partner had given birth. The data were analyzed using the Qualitative Synthesis Method (KJ Method). The mean age of the participants at data collection was 40.3 ± 4.7 years, whereas it was 34.7 ± 5.8 years when the transplant was performed. The Qualitative Synthesis Method revealed 7 symbols related to the pregnancy and childbirth experience of the partners of male kidney transplant recipients. Males who received a kidney transplant struggled with severe renal disease before the transplant. They also experienced indecisiveness about whether they should go through with the transplant. However, their lives changed because of the transplant and having children. This situation resulted in a sense of responsibility and a reason to live robustly for the male kidney transplant recipients. Nevertheless, they faced distress as kidney transplant patients. Their wives supported them through this experience. They communicated to their children what they learned from the experience while effectively dealing with their condition. The improvement in their sexual function resulting from the transplant influenced their determination to get married. It is necessary to offer information about the recovery of fertility and the possibility of having a child when choosing renal replacement therapy, give explanations based on evidence, and construct a counseling system.