Priorities for family building among patients and partners seeking treatment for infertility

• DOI: 10.1186/s12978-017-0311-8
• Publication Date: 2017-04-05T12:53:46Z
• Authors: Elizabeth A. Duthie; Alexandra Cooper; Joseph B. Davis; Jay Sandlow; Katherine D. Schoyer; Estil Strawn; Kathryn E. Flynn
• Keywords: Prioritization

Infertility treatment decisions require people to balance multiple priorities. Within couples, partners must also negotiate priorities with one another. In this study, we assessed the family-building of couples prior their first consultations a reproductive specialist. Participants were who had upcoming specialist (N = 59 (59 women; men)). Prior consultation, separately completed Family-Building Priorities Tool, which tasked them ranking from least most important 10 factors associated family building. We describe highest (top three) and lowest (bottom priorities, alignment within test for differences in prioritization between men women (Wilcoxon signed rank test). Maintaining close satisfying relationship one's partner was ranked as high priority by majorities women, 25% both factor Majorities building way that does not make infertility obvious others low priority, 27% There involved either or particular goal more highly than partners. More two higher did partners: 1) I become parent another (p 0.015) 2) have child next year < 0.001), whereas 4 our has [woman's] genes 0.025), [man's] 3) maintain my 0.034), 4) avoid side effects 0.001). Clinicians support patients assessing available paths should be aware that: (1) part of, beside, becoming parent; (2) may aligned achieving parenthood. For are relationships, clinicians encourage active participation well frank discussions about each partner's family.