Living through unsuccessful conception attempts: a grounded theory of resilience among women undergoing fertility treatment

Bailey, Anna; Ellis-Caird, Helen; Croft, Carla

doi:10.1080/02646838.2017.1320366

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This is an initially counter-intuitive result that is not related to the results of other studies. 10 Studies conducted before the pandemic show that having undergone assisted reproduction treatments is accompanied by high levels of psychological stress 29 and that anxiety symptoms resolve after successful treatments. 30 Possibly, women who are pregnant after successful assisted reproduction treatment have found in lockdown the possibility to get away from the stressors they have previously faced during treatment and spend more time taking care of food, sleep and healthy practices that have a positive impact on the reduction of specific stress related to pregnancy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with prenatal stress and anxiety in pregnant women during COVID-19 in Spain

Awad-Sirhan¹,

Simó-Teufel²,

Molina-Muñoz³

et al. 2022

Enfermería Clínica (English Edition)

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Aim of the study To describe prenatal stress and state anxiety levels in pregnant women living in Spain during the lockdown of the first wave of COVID-19 and its relation with obstetric factors, perception of health care, and concerns about the socio-sanitary situation. Methods The present study is an observational, correlational, and cross-sectional quantitative study. The participants in the study were pregnant women recruited through non-probabilistic convenience and snowball sampling during the lockdown. A web link was provided to an online questionnaire designed for this research, which collected socio-demographic and obstetric variables, perceptions of health care received during the pandemic and preoccupations associated with COVID-19. It also included the Prenatal Stress Questionnaire (PDQ) and the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S). Results Based on the responses of 695 pregnant women, the results showed a mean of 16.98 (SD = 25.20) of prenatal stress and elevated levels of anxiety (M = 25.20/SD = 11.07) in the first wave of the pandemic. Risk factors for prenatal stress and anxiety were the level of preoccupation associated with COVID-19 and previous mental health issues. A specific risk factor for anxiety was having more than one child and a protective factor were perceiving accessibility and availability of health care, with clear and consistent pregnancy care and follow-up protocols. Conclusions The lockdown period for COVID-19 was a stressful experience for pregnant women, highlighting the need to address their psychological well-being through clear and coherent protocols in terms of maternal-foetal health control and follow-up.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with prenatal stress and anxiety in pregnant women during COVID-19 in Spain

Awad-Sirhan¹,

Simó-Teufel²,

Molina-Muñoz³

et al. 2022

Enfermería Clínica (English Edition)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…They suggested three main categories of women's continuing of ART treatment cycles: "appraisal"; "stepping away from treatment", and "building self-up for the next attempt". Participants in Bailey's study demonstrated their ability to recognize their strength, ability to rely on strategies helping them through exploring their negative past experiences and monitoring their treatment (48). The majority of infertile couples in our study stated that they would seek retreatment after unsuccessful treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Trying for a second chance: Iranian infertile couples’ experiences after failed ART

Zagami

Roudsari

Janghorban

et al. 2021

Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology

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Background: Despite signi cant advances, only 35% infertile couples conceive after ART. If IVF is unsuccessful, couples will need to decide whether to proceed again with assisted conception. The aim of this study was to explore Iranian infertile couples' experiences after failed ART to continue treatment. Methods: In this qualitative study participants were selected using purposeful sampling method. Data were collected using 36 semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interviews at a regional Infertility Center in Iran from April 2016 to June 2017. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with conventional content analysis method using MAXQDA software.Results: Our ndings suggest that couples' decisions to continue treatment after unsuccessful ART is shaped by their social, emotional and nancial circumstances. We have constructed two themes to describe their experiences: support to continue and trying for a second chance.Conclusions: Infertile couples rely on support from different sources in their lives to decide to have a further cycle after an unsuccessful ART. Our ndings suggest that good marital and family support networks can support infertile couples during this period of decision making. Many of the couples found the nancial burden of another cycle challenging. Considering the depression and anxiety caused by failed ARTs, which itself could affect the success rate of any further ARTs, the clinical team should effectively assess psychological readiness of couples who decide to continue with another ART after unsuccessful treatment.

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“…13 A Previous study has also shown that women temporarily step away from the cycle of attempting pregnancy, when they feel they had reached a limit where they had exhausted their emotional and practical resources or felt as though they had lost themselves in the treatment process. 24 The themes that emerged during the analysis revealed that women's inner strength, support from family, and their ability to take control over the treatment process helped them overcome the distress. It also enabled them to endure any discomfort which occurred during the treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women have reported that drawing on their support, enabled them to maintain the emotional strength and positivity needed to carry on with the subsequent attempts. 24 Findings suggested that women who had been in treatment for longer duration and got pregnant after multiple attempts were anxious about the effects of medications on their unborn baby, sought reassurance frequently about the wellbeing of the fetus, and were apprehensive about the survival of their baby. Based on their experience, providers felt that these apprehensions were expressed by women more commonly during their first and third trimester of pregnancy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two sides of a coin: women’s experiences and providers’ perceptions of assisted conception in urban India

Saravanan

Desai

Satyanarayana

2021

Int J Community Med Public Health

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Background: The uptake of assisted reproductive treatments has increased radically in urban India. We aimed to understand women’s lived experiences of assisted conception, and ART providers’ perception of their patients’ experiences.Methods: This study was cross-sectional and we used a qualitative approach and key informant interviews to understand the experiences of women and the treatment providers. Participants were ten women who had conceived through assisted reproductive treatment and ten ART providers. The data was analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method.Results: During the treatment process, women felt consumed by their need to conceive. They reported that it was difficult for them to focus on other equally important aspects of their life. Stress, depression and anxiety associated with the uncertainty of their treatment outcome were prevalent. Women were also worried about miscarriage, safety and health of their baby, and forming an attachment with their fetus during the pregnancy. Providers’ concurred that women experience significant mood fluctuations in the form of stress, anxiety and depression which impacts treatment adherence and outcome. Women who have adequate spousal and family support are able to navigate the ART process better than women who lack social support.Conclusions: Findings imply the need for screening and brief psychological interventions at different stages of fertility treatment and during the antenatal and postnatal period to enhance women’s emotional well-being.

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Living through unsuccessful conception attempts: a grounded theory of resilience among women undergoing fertility treatment

Cited by 16 publications

References 19 publications

Factors associated with prenatal stress and anxiety in pregnant women during COVID-19 in Spain

Factors associated with prenatal stress and anxiety in pregnant women during COVID-19 in Spain

Trying for a second chance: Iranian infertile couples’ experiences after failed ART

Two sides of a coin: women’s experiences and providers’ perceptions of assisted conception in urban India

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