Social Exchanges of Infertile Women

Abstract

There is little information on the consequences of being infertile. A phenomenological study was conducted to determine the meaning of infertility to women. Forty-eight women with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and conditions of infertility were interviewed in a completely unstructured format. The most striking findings were the complexity and tenuousness of the women's social exchanges with intimates, friends, and strangers. Coercive and rejecting interactions were noted. The findings of the study were compared with literature concerning the ambivalent nature of social support. The uniqueness of infertility and the need for further research on its social consequences are discussed.