The Chinese Experience of Male Infertility

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experiences of Chinese men who were diagnosed as infertile. Thirty men who had experienced infertility were interviewed in or near the clinic of a large general teaching hospital located in Taiwan. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Five categories were generated from the interview data: emotional response after hearing the diagnosis; seeking possible explanations for the diagnosis; using alternative treatments other than those of Western medicine; stress from the discovery of the infertility secret by family, relatives, and friends; and grief for discontinuation of the family heritage. Men in this study described infertility as a frustrating and stressful experience. Findings from this study can add to the knowledge base on infertility and contribute to recommendations for improving the ways that health professionals guide, counsel, and support men who are infertile.