Music, imagery, and infertility: a qualitative inquiry into symptoms, treatments, and expressive therapies with infertility clinicians.

INTRODUCTION: Infertility is a growing global issue that causes significant mental health distress. Individuals with infertility can experience stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Infertility counseling is a growing field, and the introduction of expressive arts therapies has allowed for a more in-depth understanding of the client's infertility experience. Currently there is no research on the use of music and imagery with the infertility population, and very little research into the use of expressive arts with the same population. The aim of this study was to engage infertility clinicians through interview to explore current symptoms and treatments in the infertility community, and to explore how music and imagery as an arts-based method shaped clinician reflection.

METHODS: This qualitative phenomenological study used arts-based research methods to introduce the use of music and imagery with the infertility population, starting with clinicians currently working in the infertility field. Purposive sampling was used to recruit five infertility clinicians, four women and one man. Data were collected via a Zoom consisting of an artistic music and imagery experience and interviews. Using thematic In Vivo and photo-elicitation methods to analyze data, four clinical themes and three artistic themes were identified.

RESULTS: A total of five themes were identified, with subthemes- (1) The Complicated and Widespread Experience of Loss (emotional loss, loss of confidence, loss of fertility education, loss of genetic children because of my body, loss of social comfort, complicated structures of loss, colors/imagery representing loss), (2) Inconsistent Support Around the Infertility Experience (individual vs. couple/group, male vs. female, third party, clinical/medical, financial, isolating imagery), (3) The Long-term Mental Health Impact of Infertility (mental health, family), (4) The Long-term Mental Health Impact of Infertility (mental health, family, resolution in imagery), and (5) Reflection of Client Experience (facilitation of reflection through music, possible uses with clients).

DISCUSSION: Findings from this study demonstrated the potential of music and imagery as a positive tool for infertility mental health. Symptoms reported by clinicians corroborate past research on the impact of infertility on mental health, and participants identified a sense of loss in all areas of life. Participants discussed the music and imagery experience, with all noting the potential positives for use with clients. Limitations to this study and recommendations for future research were identified.