Into the Lived Experience of Infertility: Analysis of Infertility History Interview (IHI) Narratives

The subjective experience of infertility and Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) treatments is crucial for research and clinical practice. This study introduces the Infertility History Interview (IHI), a semi-structured clinical tool developed from clinical experience and theory to assess awareness and narrative integration of infertility experiences. 86 patient narratives were analyzed using a psychodynamic approach, revealing four thematic clusters (Couple History, Search for Pregnancy, Coping, and Family Nest) and three underlying factors (Path, Parental Project, Meaning-making Process), representing conscious and unconscious emotional dimensions. The IHI offers clinicians a structured method to assess patients’ psychological processing of infertility, supporting personalized care and targeted interventions. These findings emphasize the importance of infertility awareness assessment in ART patients to improve clinical evaluation and support.