Qualitative research on infertile Chinese couples’ understanding of sexuality

Zhuoran, Wang; Liu, Wanpeng; Peng, Tao; Coates, Rosemary

doi:10.1093/fampra/cmx069

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Our findings align with past research which suggests that couples experiencing fertility concerns may also experience psychosexual changes (Luk & Loke, 2019). This includes changes to the meaning of sex when natural conception is unlikely, feelings of pressure associated with efforts to conceive, and the need to have sex at a scheduled time, which can impact negatively on sexual desire, arousal and couple sexual enjoyment (Zhuoran et al, 2017). While all couples facing infertility may experience psychosexual changes, participants in this study described additional couple distress due to changes in sexual function associated with cancer treatment, as has previously been reported (Parton et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of cancer‐related fertility concerns on current and future couple relationships: People with cancer and partner perspectives

et al. 2020

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Objective The purpose of this study was to examine how cancer‐related fertility concerns impact on couple relationships from the perspectives of people with cancer (PWC) and partners of people with cancer. Methods A qualitative research design was used, drawing data from open‐ended responses to a survey and in‐depth individual interviews. Eight hundred and seventy‐eight PWC (693 women, 185 men) and 144 partners (82 women, 62 men), across a range of tumour types and age groups, completed a survey, and 78 PWC (61 women and 17 men) and 26 partners (13 women and 13 men), participated in semi‐structured interviews. Results Thematic analysis identified that many PWC and partners experience a ‘double burden’, manifested by cancer‐related fertility concerns creating relational stress, changes to couple sexual intimacy and feelings of inadequacy when forming new relationships. However, many participants adopted strategies to facilitate coping with infertility or fertility concerns. This included acceptance of infertility and privileging of survival, focusing on relationship growth, optimism and nurturing in other ways. Conclusion Cancer‐related fertility concerns can have a significant impact on couple relationships. Psychological support from clinicians may facilitate couple coping, as well as help to address concerns about future relationships for un‐partnered people with cancer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of cancer‐related fertility concerns on current and future couple relationships: People with cancer and partner perspectives

et al. 2020

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“…Other than these two open-ended questions, the interviewers followed the storyline of the interviewees and asked probing questions based on a topic list ( Supplementary File SI ). The topic list was initially developed based on previous studies of subfertile patients continuing to attempt natural conception or going through medically assisted reproduction ( Dancet et al , 2010a , 2011 , 2012 ; van den Boogaard et al , 2011 ; Read et al , 2014 ; Bokaie et al , 2016 ; Zhuoran et al , 2018 ). In between interviews, new topics were added to the topic list.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The needs of subfertile couples continuing to attempt natural conception: in-depth interviews

Dreischor

Laan²,

Peeters

et al. 2022

Human Reproduction Open

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STUDY QUESTION What are the experiences and the support and sexual advice needs of subfertile couples continuing to attempt natural conception after the diagnostic fertility work-up? SUMMARY ANSWER Exploration of the experiences of couples showed that couples would have appreciated fertility clinic staff embedding expectant management into the fertility clinic trajectory, supportive staff with female and male patient interactions and advice on common experiences of peers and on managing their lifestyle, distress and subfertility-related sexual challenges. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Dutch and British professional guidelines advise newly diagnosed subfertile couples with a ‘good prognosis’ to continue to attempt natural conception and do not require fertility clinic staff to interact with patients. Fertility clinic staff and subfertile couples struggle to follow these guidelines as they feel an urgent need for action. Subfertile couples might benefit from sexual advice, as subfertility is negatively associated with sexual functioning, which is important for natural conception. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Twelve one-time in-depth interviews (2015-2017) were conducted with ten heterosexual couples and two women whose partners did not participate, then the interviews were subjected to inductive content analysis, reaching inductive thematic saturation. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The 22 interviewees had experienced 3-18 months of expectant management after their diagnostic fertility work-up in a Belgian or a Dutch tertiary fertility clinic. The face-to-face in-depth interviews explored positive and negative experiences and unmet needs. The transcribed interviews were subjected to inductive content analysis, by two researchers discussing initial disagreements. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Couples would appreciate fertility clinic staff embedding expectant management in the fertility clinic trajectory, by starting off with reassuring couples that their very thorough diagnostic fertility work-up demonstrated their good chance of natural conception, and by involving couples in deciding on the duration of expectant management and by planning the follow-up appointment after expectant management up front. Couples had encountered sexual challenges during expectant management and had an interest in sexual advice, focused on increasing pleasure and partner bonding and preventing the rise of dysfunctions. Couples agreed that a (secured) website with evidence-based, non-patronizing text and mixed media would be an appropriate format for a novel support programme. Couples were keen for interactions with fertility clinic staff which addressed both partners of subfertile couples. Couples also valued advice on managing their lifestyle and distress and would have liked information on the experiences of their peers. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Recall bias is plausible given the retrospective nature of this study. This explorative interview study was not designed for examining country or gender differences in experiences and needs but it did generate new findings on inter-country differences. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Rather than simply advising expectant management, fertility clinics are encouraged to offer couples who continue to attempt natural conception after their diagnostic fertility work-up, supportive patient-staff interactions with advice on common experiences of peers and on managing their lifestyle, distress and sexual challenges related to subfertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Funded by Flanders Research Foundation and the University of Amsterdam. There are no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable.

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“…The Chinese people share the traditional cultural believe that procreating is of great importance for the family‐building while having no offspring is a great unfilially to the old parents. Infertile couples, especially women, have experienced disapproval in relationship with the in‐law and depression in sexual, social and marital relationships . Adoption is a choice, but adopted children generally have no blood relationship with the adoptive parents, and the data show that big cities like Beijing and Shanghai appear as the municipality cities with the lowest adoption rates Thus, couples are pressed to have biological children at the age of marriage.…”

Section: Why Utx In China?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Infertile couples, especially women, have experienced disapproval in relationship with the in-law and depression in sexual, social and marital relationships. [5][6][7] Adoption is a choice, but adopted children generally have no blood relationship with the adoptive parents, and the data show that big cities like Beijing and Shanghai appear as the municipality cities with the lowest adoption rates 8 Thus, couples are pressed to have biological children at the age of marriage. With the implementation of the two-child policy, even more people have expressed their fertility desire in the clinic.…”

Section: Why Utx In China?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical applications of uterus transplantation in China: Issues to take into consideration

Liu

Zhang

Ding

et al. 2020

J of Obstet and Gynaecol

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Uterus transplantation (UTx) is an emerging surgical treatment for patients with absolute uterine factor infertility. However, the initial low surgical success of human UTx from the teams worldwide has revealed the difficulty of the surgery and called for preparatory team training in large animals. Also, the team who carried out the human UTx without previous systematic research in large animals or deceased donors encountered transplant failures, which was controversial and even deprived them of further trials. Various UTx studies in large animals, including dogs, pigs, sheep and macaques have been performed in China from different teams, compared to other countries around the world. However, among over 70 UTx that have been carried out worldwide, only three were carried out in China, with one live baby achieved. In this paper, we explore the possible challenges for human UTx in China. We conclude that it is critical to learn the lessons from the international team and adopt the international ethic views regarding UTx on humans. Also, it would be positive for the Chinese groups to establishing an academic society for UTx with regular meetings, which will raise public awareness of UTx, and guide the proper development of human UTx in China.

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Qualitative research on infertile Chinese couples’ understanding of sexuality

Abstract: These findings should be highly considered by family physicians in their practice to provide infertile couples with information related to sexual well-being, coping styles, relationship, etc.

Cited by 13 publications

References 20 publications

The impact of cancer‐related fertility concerns on current and future couple relationships: People with cancer and partner perspectives

The impact of cancer‐related fertility concerns on current and future couple relationships: People with cancer and partner perspectives

The needs of subfertile couples continuing to attempt natural conception: in-depth interviews

Clinical applications of uterus transplantation in China: Issues to take into consideration

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