Caught between two worlds : renegotiating the boundary between infertility and fertility : a study of women's experiences with infertility in St. John's, Newfoundland

Dowedoff, Penny M. (2001) Caught between two worlds : renegotiating the boundary between infertility and fertility : a study of women's experiences with infertility in St. John's, Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

One in ten Canadians of childbearing age experience infertility. Often, infertility is discussed in relation to new reproductive technologies and their ability to treat infertility as well as the legal, social and ethical consequences of these technologies for women, children and society. This thesis does not focus on these consequences but rather explores how the experience of infertility impacts on the daily activities of women living in St. John's. Newfoundland. This study examines the diverse ways in which women percieve, experience and make sense of their lives after receiving an infertility diagnosis. A phenomenological approach was used to gain a detailed understanding of the infertility experience from women's perspectives. The findings suggest that women and their partners living in St. John's and rural Newfoundland experience lack of choice and poor access to medical treatments and social support. Also, the impact of infertility stretched beyond the medical aspect by influencing the extended family, social and friendship circles, and work environments. Moreover, it disrupted how the women understood their life cycles and bodies.

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