Home Journal List Journal of Islamic International Medical College Volume-6 Article Details

Psychosocial Aspects of Infertility

Abstract

Infertility generally refers to women who have never conceived despite exposure to the chance of pregnancy and women who have previously conceived but subsequently are unable to succeed. An infertile woman or a couple is constantly subjected to psychosocial stressors due to deep rooted cultural belief that children are continuation of family / pedigree and security of old age. Parenthood is an inherent instinct and a passion of high order and thus culminates in diverse psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders if this passion does not translate into parenthood. These 1 effects are described in a number of studies . Typically the psychological response is that 2,3 of loss and subsequent grief. One hypothesis suggests that unexplained psychogenic and physiologic infertility are 4 the result of Psychological stress. A terrible emotional complex of guilt, fear and anger is the major stress to which an infertile woman is continuously exposed to. A woman with this problem specifically blames herself and on occasions attributes her problem to past transgressions and a punishment. The infertility as such leads to strong guilt feelings, an uncertain future and fear of unknown.

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