Infertility

Failure to obtain something we desire leads to disappointment and sometimes to distress; the more important the desire the greater, in general, the reaction. Few would deny that infertility is a distressing experience for many couples. Indeed, numerous clinical observations and anecdotal reports have drawn attention to the stressful nature of infertility. For example, research has claimed that infertility is, `a complex life-crisis, psychologically threatening and emotionally stressful’. Other authors have also referred to infertility as a life crisis. While still others have argued that failure to conceive is associated with health problems, loss of self-esteem, feelings akin to mourning, depression, guilt and frustration.