It's the Climb: The Reproductive Journey and Well-being of Filipino Women with Infertility

Abstract

According to studies, infertility is often ignored in developing countries despite its impact on well-being. This qualitative study aimed to explore how Filipino women with infertility gave meaning to their well-being and experiences in trying to conceive. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight women, while three psychologists and two reproductive doctors were consulted as additional data sources. Utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), four themes were generated: walking trails of my reproductive story; hazards along the way: stressors of infertility; lost in the wilderness: toll on mental health and well-being; and looking back, I am in awe: journey of ascending from waiting and exploring. A simulacrum, "T.T.C. Journey Map," was developed from these themes. The findings added to the limited literature on reproductive health and well-being, which can be used as a basis to create a psychosocial program to address fertility-related concerns and ensure well-being among women with infertility.