The experience of infertile couples facing unsuccessful assisted reproductive attempts

Abstract

This article aims to understand the experience of infertile couples facing lack of success on assisted reproduction (ar) attempts. It describes, specifically, the most common feelings during unsuccessful attempts and possible impacts of these attempts. There were multiple case studies with three heterosexual couples (38-45 years old), from individual interviews with each member of the dyad. The content analysis showed a strong subjective investment of many kinds for the arrival of the child and that the repetition of the treatments influenced the increased suffering of the spouses, bringing consequences for the couples’ sexuality and communication. The financial dimension, on the other hand, did not suffer major impacts. Couples have shown strong emotional bonds, staying together under the unsuccessful attempts and in the search for new alternatives for the parenting experience. As a conclusion of this study we stress the importance of psychological support (before, during and after the realization of cycles) to couples undergoing procedures for ar.