Living with Infertility: A Review

Abstract

Human fertility is one of the most complex processes. It is influenced by a set of social and biological factors. Most couples achieve pregnancy within one year of trying, with the greatest likelihood of conception occurring during the earlier months. Infertility refers to the biological inability of an individual to contribute to conception, or to a female who cannot carry a pregnancy to full term. In India, one in every five couples is childless. The infertility experience involves many hidden losses for the individuals, their loved ones and society as a whole. The society often fails to recognize the grief caused by infertility; therefore, individuals denied parenthood often tend to hide their sorrow. Infertility exerts a negative psychological impact on individuals and couples. The extent of the impact, however, may vary which is influenced by a number of factors such as desire for a child/family; past experience; family history; relationships past and present; diagnosis; cultural beliefs; and treatment outcome. Fortunately, the development of assisted reproduction technique (ART) methods in the recent years has made parenting possible for a substantial number of infertile couples.

Keywords: Fertility, infertility, psychological impact, assisted reproductive technique