Need to Support Partners in the Process of Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility
Need to Support Partners in the Process of Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the consequences of unintended childlessness, which can concern both men and women, as well as the partnership. The primary and secondary network of social support  has been discussed and its importance in the diagnosis and treatment of fertility problems. Among many benefits arising from the support of childless partners, the improvement of their quality of life is emphasized as well as making the communication in patient - medical personnel relationships better, increasing the chance of having the child and reduction of the time to get pregnant. Social support was emphasized to be particularly needed by partners at the stage of taking decision to start treatment, subsequent stages of treatment and change of methods (procedures),termination of  treatment (taking into account its effect), and adoption. Later the paper presents  global and European initiatives to improve the quality of life of infertile couples, including the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to all infertility treatment centers, objectives and tasks of the annual celebration of WorldFam, Fertility Awareness Month and proposals for new developments of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Basing on existing literature the evaluation of implementation of these recommendations and proposals in selected countries have been discussed. The problem of provision of support to infertile couples in the Polish reality, including in the region of Lublin, has been also presented.

• Details
• Contents