Infertility: Experiences of Greek women undergoing in vitro fertilization

Abstract

This study aims to explore the experiences of Greek women in the IVF process at the premedication stage, i.e. before the ova harvest and the embryo transfer. The sample consists of eight women with a history of infertility, diagnosed for at least a year. The study was qualitative, and the data collection was carried out through a one-to-one, face-to-face semi-structured interview, while a phenomenological approach to describe the women’s experience was adopted. According to the results, these women seem to be going through various stages of emotional distress and feel that they receive inadequate support from their families and social backgrounds. They want the social fabric and the medical staff to have a holistic approach that will include the particular psychosocial dimension of the issue. It is suggested that future research efforts take into account the socio-cultural background of the infertility experience and explore in-depth the experiences of couples undergoing IVF procedures. Finally, it is recommended that the support procedures for these couples include a broad range of counseling for the family and the couple, with emphasis on strategies for coping with stressful situations and handling the social environment.