A phenomenological exploration of the mental health experiences of young women with diminished ovarian reserve

Infertility is a reproductive disease affecting one in six individuals that renders an individual unable to conceive. One cause of infertility is diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), which reduces the quantity and/or quality of a female's oocyte pool. Although typically indicating normal ovarian a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Research in nursing & health 2024-04, Vol.47 (2), p.220-233
Main Authors: Woods, Brittany M., Bray, Leigh Ann, Campbell, Sukhkamal B., Holland, Aimee, Mrug, Sylvie, Ladores, Sigrid
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age
Aging
Alternative approaches
Coping
diminished ovarian reserve
Disease
Emotional distress
Emotions
Female
Fertility
Health status
Humans
Infertility
Medical diagnosis
Mental Health
Mental health care
Mental health services
Ovarian Reserve
Ovaries
phenomenology
Psychological distress
qualitative
Snowball sampling
Social media
United States
White people
Womens health
Young women
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Summary:Infertility is a reproductive disease affecting one in six individuals that renders an individual unable to conceive. One cause of infertility is diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), which reduces the quantity and/or quality of a female's oocyte pool. Although typically indicating normal ovarian aging during the late 30s and early 40s, DOR can also impact younger women, increasing their risk for psychological distress from an unexpected diagnosis of infertility. A phenomenological approach examined the mental health experiences and perceptions of infertility‐related mental health care of young women with DOR. Women diagnosed with DOR by age 35 in the United States who experienced emotional distress during infertility were recruited from infertility‐specific social media and via snowball sampling. Participants completed a demographic survey and semi‐structured individual interview that was audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Ten women ages 27–41 completed the study. On average, participants were 30 years of age at the time of DOR diagnosis (age range 25–35), primarily Caucasian (90%), and married (90%). Two main themes were found: (1) Young women with DOR feel like a “forgotten community” coping with an invisible disease; and (2) Not all fertility clinics are created equal. Participants perceived their diagnosis as devastating and hopeless and urged others to find a provider with ample experience treating patients with DOR. This study helped to understand how young women with DOR perceive their mental health and identified a significant need for advancing towards more holistic infertility healthcare that encompasses both physical and mental health.
ISSN:0160-6891
1098-240X
DOI:10.1002/nur.22347