title: From Infertility to Successful Third-Party Reproduction: The Trajectory of Greek Women.
abstract: The purpose of our phenomenological hermeneutic study was to explore the lived experiences of Greek infertile women who achieve a pregnancy through the use of sperm, oocyte, or embryo donation or surrogate motherhood. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 infertile women. Findings suggest that conceiving a child through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is lived as a highly distressing experience, comprising long waiting periods for medical results, several failed attempts, and treatment options with uncertain outcomes. The analysis of women's accounts revealed a constitutive pattern, journeying between hope and despair, and three associated themes: (a) coping with uncertainty and treatment failures, (b) exploring options and decision making, and (c) being supported by spouse and professionals. Findings illuminate the specific meaning-based coping processes, decision-making patterns, and sources of support that help women who pursue treatment until they give birth to a child, to manage highly stressful situations and critical decisions.
authors.affiliation: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece dpap@nurs.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Danai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papadatou
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Zaira G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Papaligoura
authors.affiliation: Alexandreio Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Thalia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bellali
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D019924:Embryo Disposition / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013533:Gestational Carriers / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: coping; decision making; infertility; phenomenology; reproduction; social support; stress / distress