Representations of infertility as reflected in on-line discussion forums in Romania

Authors

Ingrid Dănilă* & Adriana Băban

Department of Psychology, School of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Abstract

Parenthood is one of the most desired goals in adulthood. However, approximately 20% of couples of reproductive age experience difficulty in conceiving or maintaining a pregnancy. Despite the fact that both males and females can be infertile, and that the male factor accounts for almost half of the infertility causes in Romanian couples, women endure the majority of fertility testing and treatments. Such procedures are expensive, time consuming and with no guarantee of success. The aim of the present paper was to bring more insight into what infertile women experience, as it is reflected by Romanian women participating in online discussion forums. In order to understand how women with fertility problems perceive and reflect on this situation, we conducted a thematic analysis, and analyzed texts from five discussion forums. We identified the following themes regarding representations of infertility: Infertility as a threat to the feminine identity; The story of one more try; Pandora’s box; Lonely couple; Divinity as a last resort to infertility. Results illustrate the magnitude of the burden of infertility, depicted as a complex problem, with consequences cascading over the personal and social aspects of life. Not being able to conceive in a society where children are emotionally valued means deviating from the norms of womanhood, bringing forth feelings of shame or guilt regarding one`s reproductive incapacity. Therefore, substantial efforts are made in order to achieve pregnancy. When hopes regarding pregnancy fail to materialize, women often turn to spirituality for help.

Keywords: infertility, failure, stigma, costs, disappointments

PAGES:85-98

doi:10.24193/cbb.2018.22.06

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