Pathways to social support: IVF patients’ motivation toward peers and selection preferences

Abstract

Infertility rates are increasing internationally, and its treatment, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) imposes stress on women as primary patients. In this study, led by a researcher with lived experience in infertility, we seek to uncover the pathways that lead IVF patients toward peer support; mainly what precipitates patients’ decisions to seek peer support and how they select their peer. Having interviewed 23 IVF patients, we found that prior to disclosing to a peer, women reflect on information about their condition and their personal support needs and reconcile support gaps within their couple and social circles as they gauge their personal motivation to seek peer support. The demands of IVF compel patients to gravitate toward other women with shared experience. Prior to disclosure, patients consider diverse points of connection as well as desirable peer traits including previous IVF experience, other common ground and full transparency in a peer’s communication style.