When IVF treatment fails

Little is known about how patients cope when treatment fails and they are faced with the prospect of life without their ‘own’ child. Initial observations suggest that, for some, the effects can be traumatic and long lasting. Thirty-five ‘narrative’ interviews were carried out with patients and partners for whom treatment had failed five years previously. Transcripts were subject to formal thematic analysis. A significant factor, which emerged from a formal analysis of transcripts, was the role of ‘hope’. Treatment offers the hope that they may have a child, and this provides the motivation for treatment; alongside the urgent need to pre-empt future regrets. Once the support provided by hope is removed, patients can struggle to make sense of their lives. It would appear that some form of closure regarding the ending of treatment is required. Research found some couples are able to reinvest in life goals and re-establish their relationships; however, there were a significant proportion of couples who were s...