Women’s perspectives on infertility treatment – lived experiences amid socially shared meanings

[M. Skočajić]

207 str.

Društveno-humanističke nauke - Psihološke nauke / Social science and humanities - Psychology

Neplodnost je medicinski i društveno prepoznato stanje nemogućnosti ostvarivanja biološkog roditeljstva. Susret sa neplodnošću neretko dobija karakteristike psihološke krize, a usled složenih društvenih pritisaka, ima snažne posledice na identitet i blagostanje, najviše žena. Iako je vantelesna oplodnja prihvaćeno i dostupno rešenje za neplodnost, ona stvara brojne pritiske za žene i vodi potencijalnim gubicima. Cilj studije bio je ispitivanje življenog iskustva vantelesne oplodnje kod žena koje se nalaze u postupku vantelesne oplodnje za dobijanje prvog deteta. Podaci su prikupljeni tokom 50 sati dubinskih intervjua sa 20 žena koje su kroz postupak prošle u Srbiji. Rezultati, dobijeni interpretativnom fenomenološkom analizom, uz osvrt na društvene okolnosti učesnica, organizovani su u pet poglavlja. U prvom, predstavljena je složenost životne faze u kojoj se žene nalaze i identitetska preispitivanja u susretu sa neplodnošću. Drugo poglavlje posvećeno je logističkom, telesnom i emocionalnom opterećenju žena, neizvesnom i dugom trajanju postupka i doživljenim gubicima. Treće poglavlje tiče se aktivne uloge koju žene uzimaju u navigiranju kroz medicinski kontekst i prevladavanju negativnih emocija i gubitaka. Uloga koju neposredno društveno okruženje i partneri imaju u pružanju logističke i emocionalne podrške, analizirani su u četvrtom poglavlju. Na kraju, posebna pažnja posvećena je medicinskom kontekstu u kom se vantelesna oplodnja odvija: materijalnim uslovima, opterećenosti medicinskih ustanova, odnosu poverenja sa lekarima i značaju adekvatnog informisanja žena. U završnoj diskusiji dodatno su razmatrane reprezentacije prirode i tehnologije u iskustvu neplodnosti i vantelesne oplodnje, gubitak kontrole u navigiranju kroz ovo iskustvo i različite putanje prolaska kroz vantelesnu oplodnju. Elaborirane su i praktične implikacije ove studije za domen javnih politika, kao i medicinski i porodični kontekst.

Infertility is recognized, medically and socially, as an inability to conceive a child. Experiencing infertility often develops into a psychological crisis, and due to complex societal pressures, affects identity and well-being, primarily of women. Even though in-vitro fertilization serves as a well-adopted and accessible infertility treatment option, it puts numerous pressures on women and can lead to experiences of loss. The aim of this study was to explore lived experiences of IVF, in wom-en trying for a first child. Data were gathered during 50 hours of in-depth interviews with 20 wom-en who underwent IVF in Serbia. Findings, analyzed with interpretative phenomenological analysis, with particular attention to participants’ social circumstances, are organized in five chapters. The first chapter looks into the life-stage complexities and identity struggles when facing infertility. The second chapter is dedicated to the logistical, physical and emotional burdens of IVF, uncertainty and length of the IVF procedure and the experience of loss. Third chapter looks into the active role women play in navigating through the clinical context and coping with negative emotions and loss. The role that community, including the male partners, have in providing emotional and logistical support are presented in the fourth chapter. The final chapter is dedicated to the clinical environ-ment, patient load, relationships of trust formed with doctors and importance of patient information. The discussion explores representations of nature and technology in IVF, loss of control in navi-gating through the experience and different pathways of experiencing IVF. Practical implications of this study were developed having public policies, clinical and family contexts in mind.

neplodnost, identitet, vantelesna oplodnja, življeno iskustvo, medicinski kontekst, gubitak, prevladavanje

infertility, identity, in-vitro fertilisation, lived experiences, clinical context, loss, co-ping

159:618.177-089.888.11(043.3) 305-055.2:316.6:[618.177-089.888.11(043.3)

Tekst