Shared burdens: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of couples facing infertility

This study explores the psychological and emotional impacts of infertility treatments on couples. Utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, this qualitative research delves into the shared experiences of five couples undergoing fertility treatments, uncovering the deep-seated personal and relational dynamics of their journeys. Three key themes were identified: From Hope to Exhaustion: Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Treatment, Redefining Togetherness: Making Sense of Infertility as a Couple, and Networks of Care: Negotiating Support Within and Beyond the Couple. Study explores how couples undergoing in vitro fertilization construct shared meaning around their experiences and how the process shapes their relational and psychological dynamics. This study adopts a couple-based interpretative phenomenological approach to reveal how partners co-construct meaning, manage shared distress, and experience relational growth during infertility treatment. It offers new insights into the dyadic processes that foster resilience amid infertility.