title: Exploration of the counseling needs of infertile couples: A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Identification of the main needs of infertile patients is essential to provision of appropriate supportive services and care based on their needs. Thus, the present study aims to explore infertile couples' counseling needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out with an inductive qualitative content analysis approach during 2012-2013. The participants of this study included 26 Iranian infertile couples and 7 medical personnel (3 gynecologists and 4 midwives). The infertile couples were selected through purposive sampling and considering maximal variation from patients attending state-run and private infertility treatment centers as well as infertility specialists, offices in Isfahan and Rasht, Iran. Unstructured in-depth interviews and field notes were utilized for data gathering and replying to this research main question, "What are the counseling needs of infertile couples?" The data from medical personnel was collected through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out through conventional content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis revealed two main themes. The first theme was "a need for psychological counseling," which included four subthemes: Emotional distress management, sexual counseling, marital counseling, and family counseling. The second theme was "a need for guidance and information throughout treatment process," which included three subthemes: Treatment counseling, financial counseling, and legal counseling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The counseling needs of infertile couples are varied, and they require various psychosocial support and counseling interventions. The participants of this study identified clearly the significance of psychological counseling and information throughout the long and onerous journey of infertility and its treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Student Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Faculty Member at Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jafarzadeh-Kenarsari
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ataollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghahiri
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zargham-Boroujeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Therapy, Family Research Institute, Shahid-Beheshti University, G.C. Evin, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habibi
keywords: Counseling; Iran; infertility; needs; qualitative research