Abstract
Objective. To explore the experience of undergoing unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and of remaining childless 3 years after IVF in both women and men. Design. Qualitative-approach study. Sample. Ten women and nine men who had attended a public fertility clinic in Sweden. Methods. Individual qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with qualitative content analysis guiding the analysis. Results. Three years after the end of IVF treatment, most men and women were still processing and had not adapted to childlessness, indicating that the grieving process was unresolved. Unsuccessful IVF was experienced by women in terms of grief, whereas men took upon themselves a supportive role and did not express grief. A need for professional support and counseling in how to handle grief was described. An unstructured end after IVF treatment left unanswered questions. Conclusions. The grieving process after unsuccessful IVF treatment was hampered among both men and women. The provision of additional individual support during IVF is recommended as men and women experienced childlessness differently. Support and counseling concerning grief reactions following IVF failure, and a structured final consultation after IVF may facilitate the grieving process after undergoing unsuccessful IVF treatment.
Highlights
Infertility is conceptualized as a major crisis in life
Unsuccessful treatment was experienced by women in terms of grief, whereas men took upon themselves a supportive role and did not express grief reactions, but expressed a need for professional counseling in how to handle grief
The results from the current study support the statement that the crisis theory is insufficient for infertile couples [5], as men and women were still processing and had not adapted to childlessness
Summary
Infertility is conceptualized as a major crisis in life. A crisis evokes emotional reactions that are classified into four main phases: the initial phase (shock, surprise, denial); the reactive phase (frustration, anger, anxiety, guilt, grief, depression, isolation); the adaptive phase (acceptance) and a resolution phase (planning for future solutions) [1,2]. The crisis theory may initially be used, this theory is considered less useful for the adaptive phase as infertility may consist of recurring stressful events [5]. Women who have undergone unsuccessful tubal surgery for female infertility factor mostly remain in the reactive phase for 2 years after surgery [6]. Life crises are considered timelimited with duration of 6 weeks or less for the reactive phase [1]. The infertility crisis may be ongoing or chronic after recurrent treatment failure
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