WHEN TREATMENT FAILS - THE TRANSITION TO BIOLOGICAL CHILDLESSNESS FORINFERTILE WOMEN

One in six women experience infertility and of those who seek medical intervention approximately 50% are unsuccessful in their attempts to c onceive. While some research is now available addressing the transitio n to parenthood following successful infertility treatment, there is l ittle known about how infertile women come to terms with their experie nce of involuntary childlessness. Based on in-depth interviews with 37 women who recently abandoned their efforts to bear a child, nine comm on phenomenological themes are identified that characterize the experi ences and needs of these infertile women as they begin to negotiate th e transition to biological childlessness and reconstruct their lives.