Exploring Women's Experiences of Infertility, Reproductive Loss, and Grief

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of women who suffered treatment failure or spontaneous abortion after funded in vitro fertilization. A multi-modal strategy was employed to recruit eligible participants for in-depth interviews. Eight categories emerged from the inductive process of conventional content analysis, focusing on the pursuit of in vitro fertilization, feelings of uncertainty, factory-like characteristics of clinics, insensitive fertility-based comments, and the emotional rollercoaster of undergoing fertility treatments. Additional findings included relationship changes, the taxing nature of treatments, and planning post-reproductive loss. The participants also provided recommendations for improving the program, like streamlining communication, expanding fertility services, and offering mental health care in conjunction with funded in vitro fertilization treatments. The findings suggest that women who suffer treatment failure or spontaneous abortion in the wake of funded in vitro fertilization face an array of emotional responses, but primarily experience a sense of grief.