Infertility is reported to affect one in every six couples in Ireland (CAHR, 2005). Others advise that infertility effects one in every five couples (Murphy, 2008). Considering this high percentage rate of people affected by infertility in Ireland one would think that there would be a great level of public awareness about the condition and appropriate support services in place to support this vulnerable client group. Unfortunately this is not the case. While there has no doubt been substantial advances and developments in the medical field with regard to treating infertility through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) which is a welcomed development for those struggling with infertility. However, little has been done to develop emotional and psychological support services for this client group.
Infertility has been classified as being a major life crisis and as such brings considerable stress, pain and anguish to those diagnosed with this condition (Holter et al. 2006). This has been identified through research conducted by Cousineau & Domar (2007) who reported that the emotional needs of service users’ attending clinics for infertility treatment have been neglected and somewhat over looked. The impact of infertility can have a profound effect on individuals and couples. According to Cousineau & Domar, (2007:295) couples can experience “overt ostracism or diverse to more subtle forms of social stigma leading to isolation and mental disorder”. Kaliarnta et al. (2001:282) notes that going through infertility treatments is “mentally and emotionally challenging on women with there being a social stigma making it difficult for women to access support which in turn leaves them feeling alone, tired and frustrated”. According to Ra...
... middle of paper ...
... them believes and views infertility as a defectiveness and views the infertile person as inadequate and flawed.
The research presented indicates that a diagnosis of infertility can result in a sense of isolation for couples and individuals struggling with infertility. The fear of stigmatisation is ever present particularly in developing countries. Isolation and stigmatisation is exasperated by societal views, values and expectations along with a distant lack of awareness and empathy for those who find themselves in this difficult and taxing situation. Infertility can be a lonely and tiring experience for many individuals and couples. Society’s lack of understanding denies this population the support and comfort they need at a critical and daunting time in their lives. The next part of this thesis will examine the impact that infertility can have on relationships.
They believe the only issue is with the fertility clinic not doing their part in creating a sound environment that is geared developing a child not money centered. The third author’s outlook lead more towards providing counseling as a direction for the couple’s situation. They believe that its necessary to seek outside help to provide guidance on handling this matter. The stress, tension, and uncertainty that is arising in the individuals that are involves needs a middle man of a professional background to give insight them on how to handle these matters. The last author displayed his opinion as focuses more on incorporating all parties in the process of child birth. The author believes that everyone should not only consider the importance it has on one’s self, on the unborn, and
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. .
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.
Women have adamantly battled for political and social reproductive rights since, in particular artificial insemination, have become mainstream phenomena in the recent decade with a focus on rights of women. In fact, doctors have experimented with the procedure for nearly a century. However, with the women¹s liberation movement of the 1970s, physician-assisted and self-insemination has become more and more popular among heterosexual career women and lesbians.
My response will then focus on the situation of the pregnant woman. Interesting was certainly that pregnant women are still considered as a rather bystander throughout the whole process of pregnancy and birthing. Not only that, some pregnant women identify themselves even as ‘others’ or alienated. Unfortunately, it was not very surprisingly to read that women have almost no autonomy throughout the whole process; especially regarding their body. As societies are built on patriarchal power structures, so is medicine, which excluded women as
For most of people, the only way to conceive a child is through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman by contributing the egg and the sperm into a woman’s womb. In a common practice, this is the only way on how to conceive a child. However, since the growing of time, with parenthood changing all thanks to the assisted reproductive technology (ART), the usual norm of conceiving a child has changed dramatically over the past decades. Lewis Vaughn describes this process to “address the agonizing problem of infertility and the powerful desire that many people have for their children of their own, especially children with whom they have a biological link” (Vaughn 392). The methods of reproductive technology is always understood under the scientific world, nonetheless, it remains a controversial topic within people.
Giving thanks to the new improvements in fertility treatments, American women are becoming mothers later than ever lately. Therefore, the number of women having their first child are between the ages of 40 and 44 has increased more than fourfold from 1985 through 2012, with the number of such births reaching 109,579 in 2012, according to the centers for disease control and prevention (O’Brien,2014). Women are more likely to conceive during their 20s, the cut off age for trying to conceive is 37. There should be a point where doctors tell you it’s time to stop treatments(cycles), but instead clinics will try to upsell you. What we as women do not realize is the high cost, the process, and the outcome of these fertility treatments. Sadly couples put so much into a process, and can come out with a disappointing outcome. So I myself do not stand by fertility treatments, these things can cause too much emotional distress.
Infertility is defined as the "inability of a man to impregnate or of a woman to conceive" after a year of having regular intercourse without any form of birth control (Wekesser, 1996). Surprisingly enough in a 1992 study, one in six couples were found to be infertile (Blank & Merrick, 1995). This statistic has held static since the 1980's but had been previously increasing. In looking at just the United States it has been estimated that infertility affects approximately 2.8 million couples out of the 600 million Americans who are of reproductive age (Infertility Tests, 1996).
With infertility on the rise in women, many women do not even understand they develop it until they try to hold kids and it might be too late for them. Infertility has increased in the United States by 4 percent since the 1980s, mostly from problems with fertility due to an increase in age in women. Worldwide between three and seven percent of all couples or women endure an unresolved problem of infertility. Many more couples, however, experience involuntary childlessness for at least one year. With more people wanting answers the problem is growing exponentially.
In a study, Lloyd (1996) found that male infertility is perceived as more stigmatizing than female infertility. Men are reluctant to discuss male infertility, viewing it as a sign of their lack of virility and potency. As a result of these issues, Miall (1986) found that to alleviate this burden of feeling of impotence, some wives have gone as far as utilizing courtesy stigma, where the woman identifies herself as being infertile in order to spare her husband the shame and guilt. Self-labeling infertility allows protects the husband from the stigmatizing effects of sexual dysfunction.
The purpose of the article I reviewed by Lykeridou, Gourounti, Deltsidou, Lautradis, and& Vaslamatzis (2009) was to examine women’s level of depression, perceived anxiety, and overall stress related to infertility while receiving fertility treatments. It w as hypothesized that the etiology of an infertility diagnoses wouldwill affect female’s psychological vulnerability. The variables that were looked at in the study were infertility diagnoses and psychological disturbances. The levels of infertility diagnoses used in the research were male factor infertility, female factor infertility, mixed, and idiopathic infertility. The various levels of psychological disturbances included depression, perceived anxiety, and overall fertility related stress.
As a young adult, it may seem foolish to predict what your future family life will look like, especially in regards to children. Often times this reality is forced upon a select few, particularly homosexual couples; however, with the innovation of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a couple is met with promise and the hope of a successful family life. IVF can be described as a process by which a fetus is genetically formed in a laboratory setting. Though this process may seem unnatural in essence, it allows for a more diverse family arrangement through medical innovation. This procedure, though controversial, is seen by many as an advancement in the medical field and can be accredited to procuring a healthy child for an unfortunate family, whether
Surrogacy is becoming extremely popular as a way for people to build their families and women to have a source of income. Many people have various reasons for their opposition to it whether it be by comparing it to prostitution or disagreeing with how military wives take advantage of the Tricare insurance. Lorraine Ali states in her article “The Curious Lives of Surrogates” that one of the more popular reasons to oppose surrogacy is that it contradicts, “what we’ve always thought of as an unbreakable bond between mother and child.” However, a woman’s inability to conceive her own children does not determine the absence of a mother to child bond.
In conclusion, Surrogacy has played a significant role in people’s lives. It has established itself as a reliable way of having babies for infertile and couples of the same genders to have babies. Surrogacy has its negative effects just like everything else. With the help of Surrogacy infertile and non-infertile couples are able to bond and share the same genes as their children. Surrogacy has taught me how difficult it can be for couples to have babies, however, it has also taught me how society views it in such a negative