Unresolved grief in women and men in Sweden three years after undergoing unsuccessful in vitro fertilization treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the experience of undergoing unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and of remaining childless 3 years after IVF in both women and men.


METHODS
Qualitative-approach study.


METHODS
Ten women and nine men who had attended a public fertility clinic in Sweden.


METHODS
Individual qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with qualitative content analysis guiding the analysis.


RESULTS
Three years after the end of IVF treatment, most men and women were still processing and had not adapted to childlessness, indicating that the grieving process was unresolved. Unsuccessful IVF was experienced by women in terms of grief, whereas men took upon themselves a supportive role and did not express grief. A need for professional support and counseling in how to handle grief was described. An unstructured end after IVF treatment left unanswered questions.


CONCLUSIONS
The grieving process after unsuccessful IVF treatment was hampered among both men and women. The provision of additional individual support during IVF is recommended as men and women experienced childlessness differently. Support and counseling concerning grief reactions following IVF failure, and a structured final consultation after IVF may facilitate the grieving process after undergoing unsuccessful IVF treatment.
Volgsten
Helena
H
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. helena.volgsten@kbh.uu.se
Svanberg
Agneta Skoog
AS
Olsson
Pia
P
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure