"We are not abnormal": experiences and management of stigma among Chinese women struggling with infertility.

Background: While numerous studies have highlighted the stigma experienced by women facing infertility, there is limited research that delves into the specific types of stigmas they encounter. Despite extensive discussions surrounding the Stigma Management Communication (SMC) theory and its application in managing stigma across various contexts, its utilisation in understanding and addressing the stigma experienced by women with infertility has been largely overlooked. This study seeks to bridge this gap by identifying forms of stigma that Chinese women experiencing infertility encounter and analysing the strategies they use to manage it.

Method: Eighteen one-to-one semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to gather comprehensive information. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data.

Results: Chinese women experiencing infertility encountered structural, interpersonal and individual stigma. Regarding stigma management, participants employed three strategies: accepting personal stigma and acknowledging societal perceptions, accepting personal stigma while challenging societal perceptions, and challenging personal stigma while accepting societal perceptions.

Conclusions: Structural, individual, and interpersonal stigma were identified through the participants, expanding the understanding of stigma. The research underscored that personal emotions, government policies, and cultural norms were essential contextual factors in understanding SMC theory and highlighted the association between SMC strategies and consequences.