Editorial: Psychosocial Aspects of Infertility

Abstract

Infertility generally refers to women who have never conceived despite exposure to the chance of pregnancy and women who
have p r e v i o u s l y c o n c e i v e d b u t subsequently are unable to succeed. An infertile woman or a couple is constantly
subjected to psychosocial stressors due to deep rooted cultural belief that children are continuation of family / pedigree and
security of old age. Parenthood is an inherent instinct and a passion of high order and thus culminates in diverse psychiatric
and psychosomatic disorders if this passion does not translate into parenthood. These effects are described in a number of studies .Typically the psychological response is that of loss and subsequent grief.2,3 One hypothesis suggests that unexplained
psychogenic and physiologic infertility are the result of Psychological stress.4 A terrible emotional complex of guilt, fear and anger is the major stress to which an infertile woman is continuously exposed to. A woman with this problem specifically blames herself and on occasions attributes her problem to past transgressions and a punishment. The infertility as such leads to strong guilt feelings, an uncertain future and fear of unknown.