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What do women want? Women's experiences of infertility treatment
Abstract
Finnish women's experiences of infertility treatment were investigated by examining their satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and their most positive and negative experiences with the treatment. Three hundred and forty four (16%) out of the 2,189 women respondents to a 1994 postal survey (response rate 74%) had experienced difficulties in having a baby. Two-thirds had sought medical help, generally from private gynaecologists. Less than half of the women were satisfied with the infertility treatment, expressing less satisfaction than is generally found among health care clients. Dissatisfied women were more often 35-39 years of age, in treatment during the study period, in treatment in public clinics and not successful in having a baby. However, about one-third of the women were unsure about or did not give their opinion in regard to satisfaction. The subsequent birth of a baby was the most common reason for satisfaction. The most positive treatment experience was respectful, empathic and personal care from the doctor. Unsatisfactory encounters with health care personnel were the main reasons for dissatisfaction and were most often cited as the most negative treatment experience. This dissatisfaction could reflect relatively young and healthy women's assertive attitudes toward infertility care services in the context of the intimacy and vulnerability of childlessness.
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“The subtheme relating to negative interactions with healthcare providers adds to the findings of previous studies31 32 and highlights the need for increased awareness and education among healthcare providers in addressing the emotional aspect of infertility with sensitivity and compassion.”
From Infertility-related distress and clinical targets for psychotherapy: A qualitative study (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Malin, M., Hemminki, E., Räikkönen, O., Sihvo, S., & Perälä, M.-L.
- Affiliations
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Malin, Maili
- Venue
- Social Science & Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2001-07
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 123-133
- ISSN
- 0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1982964761
- Cited by
- 135
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 4.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare
- Keywords
- infertility treatment, patient satisfaction, patient dissatisfaction, women's experiences, physician-patient relationship, empathy in care, childlessness, reproductive health care, Finnish women
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Data Collection, Female, Fertility Agents, Female, Fertilization in Vitro, Finland, Patient Care, Humans, Infertility, Patient Satisfaction
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