Aspects of Suffering and the Coping Mechanisms Used by Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify aspects of suffering and the coping mechanisms used by women undergoing infertility treatment and to explore the relationships of these aspects and mechanisms to the woman's self-esteem. The subjects who agreed to participate in the study included 604 married, infertile women. Data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire developed by the author. Results:
1. Factor analysis yielded five aspects of suffering among infertile women. A “sense of vulnerability related to infertility” and an “uncertainty related to pregnancy” were the most characteristic aspects of suffering identified.
2. Factor analysis also yielded five coping mechanisms found among infertile women. Positive coping mechanisms, such as “finding new values through the experienceof infertility” and “taking things easy” were described as characteristic coping mechanisms.
3. The self-esteem scores were average, but 16.22% of the women belonged to the low score group. The strongest parameter in the self-esteem score was “introversive/emotional coping behavior”.
Infertile women listed many serious forms of suffering. They tried to cope with this suffering in their own way and they described the capability to change the experience of infertility into a positive experience. These findings suggest that it is important to understand the aspects of suffering and the coping mechanisms used by women undergoing infertility treatment.