Barriers to infertility treatment: an integrated study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• Infertility significantly impacts individuals' lives.
• Many women discontinue infertility treatments due to various barriers.
• Understanding these barriers is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing discontinuation of infertility treatment.
• To identify barriers preventing women from seeking or continuing fertility care.
• To explore the lived experiences of infertile women regarding treatment.

Main Methods:

• An integrated qualitative-quantitative study.
• Purposive sampling of infertile women at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences.
• Data collection via a 22-question Likert scale questionnaire and in-depth unstructured interviews/focus groups.

Main Results:

• Major barriers include: probability of treatment failure (52.5%), couple's age and high-risk pregnancy (51.5%), and painful treatment methods like laparoscopy (50.5%).
• Qualitative findings revealed three main themes: nature of treatment, negative thinking, and social/cultural factors.

Conclusions:

• Family education and cultural enrichment are recommended to encourage treatment continuation.
• Addressing patient concerns about treatment efficacy, risks, and pain is essential.
• Improving the cultural context surrounding infertility can enhance patient willingness to pursue treatment.