Abstract
The inability to bear children when one wishes is considered a developmental crisis in the lives of women and men. Throughout history, fertility has been highly valued and viewed as the link between generations. It is estimated that about ten to fifteen percent of couples of reproductive age in the United States are unable to conceive after a year of coitus without contraception. This represents about 3 million couples (Seibel, 1991) who are making over 2 million visits a year to the offices of physicians in their quest for a biologic child (Speroff, 1989). There does not seem to be an absolute increase in the occurrence of infertility (Center for Disease Control, 1985). Age adjusted rates remain about the same as they were in 1965, but many women are having their first children later in their thirties when fertility is declining. Peak fertility remains between the ages of 20 to 29 when many women today are building careers, and developing lasting relationships. Some other causes for infertility are the increase in sexually transmitted diseases and the possible presence of environmental toxins (Speroff, 1989). About 50% of couples’ infertility problems are female, about 40% male, and the rest, problems in both partners.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Bibliography
Abbey, A., Halman, L. and Andrews, F. : 1993, ‘Psychological treatment and demographic predictors of the stress associated with infertility’, Fertil Steril 57,122–128.
Baran A. and Pannor R. : 1989, Lethal Secrets, The Shocking Consequences and Unsolved Problems of Artificial Insemination, Warner Books, New York.
Berg, B. J. and Wilson, J. F. : 1991. ‘Psychological functioning across stages of treatment for infertility’, J Behav Med 14, 11–26.
Berger, D. : 1977, ‘The role of the psychiatrist in a reproductive biology clinic’, Fertil Steril 28, 141–145.
Brody, E. M. : 1987, ‘Reproduction without sex, but with the doctor’ Law, Medicine & Health Care 15, 152–155.
Burns L. : 1993, ‘An overview of the psychology of infertility’, Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Clinics of No America 4, 433–454.
Dennerstein, L. and Morse, C. : 1988, ‘A review of psychological and social aspects of in vitro fertilization’, J P sychosom Obstet Gynecol 9, 159–170.
Domar, A., Seibel, M. and Benson, H. : 1990, ‘The mind/body program for infertility: A new behavioral treatment approach for women with infertility’, Fertil Steril 53, 246–249.
Downey, J. et al. : 1989, ‘Mood disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and distress in women presenting for infertility evaluation’, Fertil Steril 52, 425–432.
Erickson, E. : 1980, Identity and the Life Cycle, W. W. Norton, New York.
Fagan, P et al. : 1985, ‘Sexual functioning and psychologic evaluation of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer’, Fertil Steril 43, 48–53.
Freeman, E. W. et al. : 1985, ‘Psychological evaluation and support in a program of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer’, Fertil Steril 43, 48–53.
Greenfeld, G. et al. : 1985, ‘The role of the social worker in the in vitro fertilization program’, Social Work in Health Care 10, 71–79.
Harrison, K. L., Callan, V. J. and Hennessey, J. F. : 1987, ‘Stress and semen quality in an in vitro fertilization program’, Fertil Steril 48, 633–636.
Higgins, B. S. : 1990, ‘Couple infertility: From the perspective of the close/relationship model’, Family Relations 39, 81.
Holder A. : 1993, ‘Legal and ethical issues in assisted reproductive technology’, Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Clinics of No America 4, 597–614.
Hollender, M. and Ford, C. : 1990, Dynamic Psychotherapy: An Introductory Approach, Am Psychiat Press, Inc, Washington D.C.
Kraft, A. : 1980, ‘The psychological dimensions of infertility’, Am J Orthopysciat 30, 618–628.
Lauritzen, P. : 1993, Pursuing Parenthood. Ethical Issues in Assisted Reproduction, Indiana University Press, Bloomington.
Leiblum, S., Kenmann, E. and Lande, M. K. : 1987, ‘The psychological concomitants of in vitro fertilization’, J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 6, 165–178.
Mahlstedt, P. et al. : 1987, ‘Emotional factors in the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer process’, J of in Vitro Fertil & Embryo Transfer 4, 232–236.
Mahowald, M. B. : 1993, Women and Children in Health Care. An Equal Majority, Oxford University Press, New York.
Menning, B.E. : 1980, ‘The emotional needs of infertile couples’, Fertil Steril 34, 313.
Milden, R. : 1985, Infertility and the New Reproductive Technologies: Psychodynamic Specualtions, paper presented at the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles.
Morse, C. A. and Van hall, E. V. : 1987, ‘Psychosocial aspects of infertility: a review of current concepts’, J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 6, 157–164.
Noyes, R. and Chapnick, E. : 1964, ‘Literature of psychology and infertility: A critical analysis’, Fertil Steril 15, 543
Olshansky, E. F. : 1987, ‘Identity of self as infertile: an example of theory-generating research’, Advances in Nursing Science 9, 54.
Reading, A. : 1989, ‘Decison making and in vitro fertilization: the influence of emotional state’, J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 10, 107–112.
Rosenthal, M.B. : 1993, ‘Psychiatric aspects of infertility and assisted reproductive technologies’, Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Clinics of No America 4, 471–481.
Rosenthal, M. B. : 1985, ‘Grappling with the emotional aspects of infertility’, Contemp OB/GYN 7,97–104.
Seibel, M. : 1988, ‘A new era in reproductive technology’, N Engl J Med 318, 828–834.
Sokoloff, B. : 1987, ‘Alternate methods of reproduction: Effects on the child’, Clin Peds 11–17.
Speroff, L. (ed): 1989, Clinical Gynecology Endocrinology and Fertility, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland.
Stanton, A. L. and Dunkel-Schetter, L. : 1991, ‘Psychological adjustment to infertility’, in Infertility: Perspective From Stress and Coping Research. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 3–16.
Taymor, M. L. : 1990, Infertility: A Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment, Plenum Medical Book Company, New York.
Roden, J. and Collins, A. (eds): 1991, Women and New Reproductive Technologies: Medical, Psychosocial, Legal and Ethical Dilemmas, Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc., New Jersey
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rosenthal, M.B. (1997). Therapy of Working with the Childless Woman: The Pathos of Unrealized Dreams, the Psychology of Female Infertility. In: Wildes, K.W. (eds) Infertility. Philosophy and Medicine, vol 53. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0269-5_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0269-5_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6605-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0269-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive