Gender Differences and Perceptions About Childbearing Among Infertile couples

Abstract

To explore gender dierences and responses of in fertile couples to childbearing issues. Design : Data analysis from the first wave of a larger three wave prospective panel study. Face-to-face tnterviews with both husbands and wives were conducted. Setting : Husbands and wives were interviewed separately in their homes. One was generally interviewed immediately after the other. Participants : One hundred sixty-one infert ile couples in southeastern Michigan were interviewed in 1988. Measures : Variables of interest included the self recognized source of the fertility problem, the tmportance of children to individuals, stress associated with infertility treatment, the number of tests and treatments received, the acceptabiltty of indicated treatments, the length of time couples expected it would take to have a child, and the ideal and expected number of children. Results : Women experienced signijcantly more stress from tests and treatment, placed greater importance on havtng children, were more accepting of indicated treatments, and wanted more children than men did. Conclusions : Implications for nurses working with in fertile couples are discussed, including provision of emotional support, evaluation of perceptions of success, assessment of couples' expectations, and inclusion of husbands in decision making.