Childlessness: Strategies for Coping with Infertility

Abstract

This study examines the coping strategies adopted by 50 men and women with fertility problems. All those interviewed had sought medical help and many had become very knowledgeable about reproduction and infertility. These are strategies concerned largely with maximising external resources. Others were concerned with redefining the problem and managing the negative concepts of themselves and others to infertility. Seeking social support, building up positive self-concepts and finding other ways of having needs met were strategies employed less frequently and when used were less thoroughly explored. Some reasons for not developing these strategies are discussed.

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