Chinese Traditional Childbearing Attitudes and Infertile Couples in Taiwan

Comparison of Pregnancy Stress Between In Vitro Fertilization/Embryo Transfer and Spontaneous Pregnancy in Women During Early Pregnancy

“…The childbearing attitude prevalent among Chinese exerts a strong influence regarding the desirability of attaining pregnancy and meeting cultural expectations of having children. Therefore, results of this current study confirm that the psychological stress from identifying maternal role and altering body structure and body function among IVF women with increasing gestational week made their psychological stress during the early stages of pregnancy more obvious (Dennis & Allen, 2008;Kuo et al, 2008;Lee & Kuo, 2000;Meades & Ayers, 2011). This is reasonable, because family members often remind IVF women about the need to be careful because of the amount of effort required to become pregnant.…”

The Chinese Experience of Male Infertility

“…The Chinese culture emphasizes that birth is the meaning of human existence and having children is the most important function of marriage (Lee & Kuo, 2000). Lee and Kuo (2000) describe six traditional Chinese childbearing attitudes: having no heir is the gravest offense against filial piety, continuing the family line is a mandatory responsibility, raising children is insurance against the insecurity of old age, having children means having more good fortune, having three generations living together is desirable, and having a son is more important than having a daughter.…”

The Pain and the Promise of Unfilled Dreams: Infertile Couples

“…Adoption in this culture is generally not socially acceptable, and there are medical, ethical, and legal implications to infertility treatment (Araoye, 2003). In traditional Chinese culture, women are honored for bearing a son, and even in the face of the one-child policy, having a child is extremely important (Chang & Kuo, 2000;Kartchner & Callister, 2003;Lee & Chin, 1996;Lee & Kuo, 2000). According to a Chinese proverb, "There are three ways one can dishonor one's parents, with childlessness being the foremost" (Lee & Sun, 2000, p. 153).…”