The subfertile couple.
When pregnancy is achieved through fertility awareness, there are further long-range benefits to the couple: information which will permit them the choice to avoid, delay or achieve subsequent pregnancies. Thus, the opportunity for responsible parenthood continues. The goal of nursing in subfertility care is to identify factors which may contribute to lowered fertility, and to teach and/or refer appropriately. The most comprehensive single intervention may be to teach the couple awareness of their own fertility through the Billings Method of natural family planning. If conception does not occur, the couple may progress to infertility investigation, knowing that the expense, inconvenience, and possible trauma are justified. Whether pregnancy occurs or not, it is likely that the couple will have had the benefit of clarifying their relationship, further understanding their bodies, and generally growing toward fuller personhood.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009736:Nursing Process; D011247:Pregnancy; D012725:Sexual Behavior