Significant interpersonal relationship issues experienced during infertility and fertility treatment journeys: a consensus study.

AIM: This study recruited a panel of experts to reach a consensus regarding the most significant interpersonal relationship issues experienced during infertility and/or fertility treatment.

METHODS

Researchers, health professionals, and people with lived infertility/fertility treatment experience participated in three online surveys. The first survey asked participants to write the most significant relationship issues that they think people can experience during infertility and/or fertility treatment (N = 90, 99% female from Australia and New Zealand, the U.S.A. the UK, Italy, Japan, & Portugal; 19 identified as a researcher, 19 as a health professional, 58 with lived experience). Across two subsequent surveys, the panel rated the set of 82 identified relationship issues in terms of significance.

RESULTS

Eleven relationship issues were identified as the final set of the most significant relationship issues. The issues related to social connections generally (i.e. seeing and interacting with people who appear to conceive easily, a lack of understanding from others, and emotional experiences, mental health issues, and infertility stress negatively affecting relationships), romantic relationships (i.e. sexual satisfaction and intimacy issues, sexual functioning issues and emotional experiences and infertility stress negatively affecting the relationship), friendships (i.e. dealing with and responding to a friend's pregnancy or parenting journey). A relationship issue (negative thoughts and feelings) with the self was identified.

CONCLUSION

A range of relationship issues, spanning the entire social network, are experienced during infertility and/or fertility treatments. Researchers and professionals should focus on better understanding and addressing the most significant relationship issues identified to enhance health.