Nordic couples’ decision-making processes in anticipation of contacting a fertility clinic

Abstract

Objective: To explore the decision-making processes of Nordic couples in anticipation of contacting a fertility clinic after experiencing difficulties in conceiving. Method: A retrospective descriptive qualitative study of 22 heterosexual infertile couples recruited from fertility clinics in all five Nordic countries. Results: The process comprises three decisions: (i) accepting that they have a shared problem, (ii) acknowledging the need for more knowledge and (iii) taking action to get help. Subcategories were: (i) infertile or not, maintain the balance in the relationship; (ii) information from social networks and information from the health care system; (iii) having an alternative plan and fear of a wrong decision. The core category was ‘negotiation and re-negotiation’. Differences between the countries were found with regard to the time couples waited before contacting a fertility clinic, and in the utilisation of private vs. public clinics. Conclusion: It requires a process of negotiation and re-negotiation for couples to reach a compromise. Furthermore, the decision-making process is influenced by the structure of health care services in respective countries.

Keywords:

• infertility
• ART
• decision-making
• Nordic countries

Acknowledgements

We thank all the couples who participated and the clinics that helped recruit them. We are also grateful to the Nordic School of Public Health for funding and to Merck Serono for a travel grant.