The experience and meaning of infertility for biologically childless infertile men

Russell E. Webb
1994
A qualitative phenomenological paradigm was used to explore the experience of male factor infertility for childless men. Six men were recruited; three from Vancouver, B.C. and three from Regina, Saskatchewan. The men described their experience of infertility within an individual, in-depth, audiotaped interview. Eight common themes were extrapolated from an analysis of the data. The results indicated that the mens' experience of male factor infertility included all of the following: (1) intense
more » ... rief and loss, (2) a sense of powerlessness and loss of control, (3) feelings of inadequacy, (4) betrayal, (5) isolation, (6) a sense of threat or foreboding, (7) a need to overcome or survive, and (8) a need for positive reconstruction of the situation and of the self, whereby, the men found new and positive meanings (or purposes) for an experience that originally seemed meaningless and painful.
doi:10.14288/1.0054084 fatcat:m4ks42acmngzdluafkubyqlxma