Infertility is essentially the inability to conceive after one year of timely unprotected sexual intercourse and, or the inability to carry a pregnancy to live birth (Glover, 2008, p. 209). Of the many possible causes for infertility, 70% of the cases are attributed to natural causes and the remainder due to idiopathic, or unexplained factors (Kraaij, 2009, p. 19). Infertility is a complex medical issue that not only affects a woman physiologically, but also impinges on many other aspects of her life. Historically, statistics on the rate of infertility in Canada were published infrequently. However, with recent technological advancements and implementation of assisted reproductive treatments, health specialists are now recognizing the overwhelming number of women affected by this condition. A study conducted by Bushnik et al., (2011), concluded that the current prevalence of infertility in Canadian heterosexual couples, where the woman was aged 18-34, ranged from 11.5% to 15.7%, almost double the rate previously measured in 1992 (Bushnik, 2011, pp. 738-740). The topic of infertility is one of great importance, for although it affects a significant number of Canadians, there is little public awareness of the potentially devastating effects on those involved. This paper will explore infertility as a life crisis for the North American female in adulthood. This will be examined through various issues regarding the psychological, emotional, and social aspects of infertility. Lastly, it will look at various coping strategies, both positive and negative, that can have a far-reaching effect on the burden of undesired infertility. Psychological Impact For the most part, women approach adulthood with the intent to bear children, and con... ... middle of paper ... ...ships as “one of the most meaningful and personal connections formed between two people” had truly significant implications on the health and well-being of a woman coping with infertility (Glover, 2008, p. 226). With this understanding, a healthy social support network could provide a psychological security net, allowing her to feel a sense of stability and predictability during a time in her life where she may feel she lacks control and certainty. In conclusion, the psychological, emotional, and social impacts relating to infertility are not isolated factors but are intertwined in a complex manner that affects the individual in diverse ways. And while being surrounded by an unsupportive social network can lead to feelings of stigmatization, a positive one can truly help the individual to overcome many of the difficulties associated with a diagnosis of infertility.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.1 million married couples experience troubles with infertility. Infertility is defined as trying for over a year and not becoming pregnant for women under 35 and trying for six months for women over 35. The cause of the infertility is a male factor one third of the instances, female another third, ten percent of the cause is a combination of both male and female factors and the remaining twenty percent is not apparent. In vitro fertilization is a process that tries to eliminate the problems inherent in the mother and father. It involves an egg is fer...
...olden times, women were bound ‘only’ to do the domestic work, whereas men were entitled to do the foreign work. But now time has evolved, and women are indulging more in the professional arena. The pursuance time of the career and that to starting a family conflicts. Women have their priorities of pursuing their career first to acquire financial stability similarly like men and then settling down in the institution of marriage. Some women delay marriage and parenting because some of them are single girl child or are sister siblings so they have their own household and family responsibilities to look after. So they want to ensure a quality life for their parents and themselves. But there is a ‘ticking clock’ that places an additional burden on those wrestling with some important life decisions one of them being the most essential – the right time to have children.
At some point in a woman's life, she may think of the idea of having a child. Some young girls are taught at a young age that when she grows up, someday she can have a family of her own if she chooses. When I was a child, I remember my mother and other womanly influences telling me that when I'm older, I might have a family of my own; and in result of this, ever since I was little, I have planned out how many children I want to have, and my expectations of my family life. However, while many women see themselves having children someday, and understand the process of carrying a child, some women might be in the dark about the complications that can come along with pregnancy. Life can throw curve balls, and everything that may have been planned, and thought out clearly might not go as smoothly as expected. There are many complications that can occur from pregnancy for mom and baby. In fact, one of the most common complications to occur is Down syndrome. And while Down syndrome may be very common, many women are making the decision to abort their fetuses once they are aware of the disability.
“Managing Infertility.” USNews.com. Stanford University Medical Center, 31 Mar. 2007. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. .
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help those who want children but struggle with infertility. The process consists of extracting eggs from a woman and collecting a man’s sperm sample then manually combining them in a lab dish. Once the embryo(s) are created they are transferred to a woman’s uterus. IVF is commonly used in woman who cannot conceive on their own due to different reasonings. “These include but are not limited to blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, male factor infertility, woman with ovulation disorders, genetic disorders, woman who have had their fallopian tubes removed and unexplained infertility.” (American Pregnancy)
Rice, A. D., Patterson, K., Wakefield, L. B., Reed, E. D., Breder, K. P., Wurn, B. F., & Wurn, L. J. (2015). Ten-year Retrospective Study on the Efficacy of a Manual Physical Therapy to Treat Female Infertility. Alternative Therapies In Health And Medicine, 21(3), 36-44.
First, let’s define Infertility? Infertility is the inability to conceive from unprotected sex within a year. According to National Infertility Association(NIA), approximately 1 in 8 couples in the U.S-about 10-15% experience infertility. Infertility doesn’t discriminate against gender or race, therefore, it impacts both men and women equally, and that range from ages 15-50. In addition, any fertile individual could experience this condition, therefore, one can develop it later in life. This condition is shared by about 6 + million women in the U.S. and about 3-4.7 million men were diagnosed in with infertility, including 14% sperm/semen and 6% varicocele, which is an enlarged vein inside the male scrotum, pouch that holds the testicles of a male, therefore this blocks the blood from through the blood stream.
By working with a therapist who is specifically trained in helping couples cope with infertility, you will find the support you need to work through the anxiety, depression, identity issues and relationship problems that so often accompany this challenging life circumstance. By learning vital coping skills to help you remain present and whole, you’ll be better equipped to support and nurture your emotional health throughout your fertility journey. Open to individuals and
The menstrual cycle of fertile women usually lasts about a month. This time and under the influence of the body’s own natural hormones, a tiny sac within the ovary containing an egg grows to about the size of a grape. At a point midway in the cycle, this egg is released from the ovary and ovulation occurs. Ovulation is also regulated by hormones. The egg, which is ready for fertilization, then passes into the uterine tubes to await the arrival of fertile sperm. Ovulation is a naturally occurring event and the desire to have children is a similarly natural instinct. That instinct, however, cannot always be fulfilled. The causes of unwanted ______ are numerous but so are the means of treating them.
In women, many things can cause them to be infertile. Now I asked you guys if you wanted to have kids because even though it may seem like forever until you seriously consider that question, things we do now can negatively imp...
3. Chandra A; Martinez GM, Mosher WD, Abma JC, Jones J (November 2005). Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S.Women: Data From the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Hyattsville, Maryland: US Department of Health and Human Services. pp. 17, 90. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
It is assumed by most that we will all be able to grow up, fall in love, get married, and then have children of our own. This is not the lifestyle that all people choose, but it is still the view accepted by the majority of society. What happens when the unthinkable occurs and a happily married couple is unable to get pregnant? This is a reality for 7.1%, or 2.8 million, of the married couples in the United States (Lenox, 1999). Today, there are many people all over the world that decide to use fertility treatments to help them conceive a child, and this often leads to the birth of twins, triplets, or even higher order multiples. There are many risk factors that are involved in this type of pregnancy, and these issues have created a cloud of debate around this subject.
Unlike other peer researchers, Tyler May (1995) found that men possess very strong feelings about being infertile that they were willing to express. Male participants expressed feeling unworthy, bitter, and useless because they could not contribute to society via reproduction. One male participant expressed, “ ‘that one term (infertile) transformed this budding stud into a wimp.’ And when he learned that the quality of his semen was “borderline”, I was shattered. My voice went up two octaves.’ “ (p.
Teitelbaum, Michael S., Jay Winter. “Low Fertility Rates - Just a Phase?” YaleGlobal Online. Yale Global, 9 Jul. 2013. Web. 1 Mar. 2014.
Poster, E. (1984). Human Responses to Child Bearing. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 6(3), 99. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.