Expectations and coping of women undergoing in vitro fertilization

Approximately 15% of childbearing couples in America experience infertility. While dramatic progress has been achieved in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of the organic components of infertility, less attention has been paid to the emotional dimensions of this life crisis. Descriptive data were gathered from interviews with three women who completed an in vitro fertilization cycle at a large midwestern university hospital. Open-ended interview questions elicited information about each woman's in vitro experience with regard to the realization of her expectations, her coping mechanisms, and suggestions for what would have helped. Differences in the perception of the difficulty of the experience are suggested depending on pregnancy success. Health team strategies for supporting women undergoing in vitro fertilization are discussed.