title: Passage through infertility treatment: a stage theory.
abstract: This grounded theory study explored the perceptions of 25 couples as they underwent infertility assessment and treatment. A substantive theory of passage through infertility treatment explains the psychosocial responses of couples to their infertility from prediagnosis to posttreatment. The theory consists of three concepts--engagement, immersion and disengagement. Eight stages were identified within these concepts: experiencing a dawning of awareness, facing a new reality, having hope and determination, intensifying treatment, spiralling down, letting go, quitting and moving out, and shifting the focus.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blenner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009742:Nursing Theory; D013315:Stress, Psychological