Exploring involuntary childlessness in men – a qualitative study assessing quality of life, role aspects and control beliefs in men’s perception of the fertility treatment process

AbstractThe goal of this study was to explore the experience and perception of men during the diagnosis of infertility and subsequent treatment, and the impact on role concepts, control beliefs, and quality of life on these processes. Furthermore, it aimed to derive improvements in how men should be counselled. A qualitative study was conducted. It consisted of 13 semi-structured individual interviews with men undergoing or about to start fertility treatment at Heidelberg University Hospital. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Men emphasized the rare opportunities for being involved in treatment, lack of control and the ambivalence of social support. Furthermore, their experiences differed enormously regarding the cause of infertility and the period for which they were preoccupied with the topic. Dealing with involuntary childlessness is challenging for all men. Nevertheless, participants revealed major differences in dealing with fertility treatment in relation to role concepts, control...