Creating a family through surrogacy: Negotiating parental positions, familial boundaries and kinship practices

This article focuses on male same-sex couples who fulfil their wish for a child through gestational surrogacy. As two-father families they must engage with society’s expectation that every child has both a mother and a father. Thus, the position of the mother must be filled, or at least accounted for. The empirical data derive from interviews with male samesex couples from Germany. Following the grounded theory approach, we analyse the couples’ ‘doing (being) family’ from two perspectives. First, we discuss how family roles are negotiated within the family formation process. The fathers employ different strategies to address the issue of the ‘absent mother’. Second, we examine how the couples draw boundaries in family formation processes to ensure that they are seen as the child’s only parents. We argue that social discourses lack broader definitions of (family) relations beyond the gendered categorizations of father and mother.

Sexual Function and Socio-Sexual Difficulties in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Introduction PCOS is the most common endocrine syndrome in women of the reproductive age that has manifold effects on the life of affected women. Little scientific attention has been devoted to these womenʼs sexual lives. Aim To investigate sexual quality of life in women with PCOS. Methods The sample size was n = 44. Measures employed were: An extended list of sexual dysfunctions and perceived distress based on DSM-IV-TR, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), German Questionnaire on Feelings of Inadequacy in Social and Sexual Situations (FUSS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) subscale depression. The relationships of these components were examined including further variables (body mass index, degree of hirsutism using the Ferriman-Gallwey Score, wish for a child). An open question about what participants see as the source of their sexual problems was presented. Results Only moderate impairment in sexual function was detected, but feelings of inadequacy in social and sexual situations were markedly elevated and positively correlated with the degree of hirsutism. Depression showed to be a major problem. Conclusion Patients with PCOS should be screened for socio-sexual difficulties and emotional problems. Specialized psychological and sexological counselling can complement patient care.

Psychological Impacts of Infertility Among Married Women Attending in a Tertiary Hospital, Dhaka

Background: Infertility being a medical problem leads to various psychological problems. The stress of the non-fulfillment of a wish for a child has been associated with emotional sequel such as depression, anger, marital problems among infertile women. The study investigates the psychological impacts of infertility among married women suffering from infertility.Material and Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was carried out on 112 purposively selected infertile married women in outpatient department of Kormitola General Hospital, Dhaka. The Goldberg Depression questionnaires (GDQ) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to 112 married women with infertility. In addition to socio-demographic data, a structured questionnaire was used to collect obstetric information from the participants.Results: The study showed 70 (62.5%) infertile women showed different levels of depression (GDQ scale). Of these, 12 (10.7%) had minor to moderate and 36 (32.1%) had moderate to severe level of depression. According to BAI, 42 (37.5%) responded suffered with anxiety disorders among them 14 (12.5%) had moderate anxiety and 28 (25.0%) potentially concerning levels of anxiety. Infertile women are worst victim of psychological morbidities with increasing age. Study showed that about 54% infertile women of more than 31years of age were suffering from minor to severe depression. Women who were infertile lower than 5 years, had lowest psychological disorders (c2=21.34, P=.001 and c2=8.5, P=.01). About anxiety, women married for more than 11 years were the worst sufferer. Women neglected by their husband had a higher prevalence for psychiatric morbidity (c2=12.22, P=.002). Women suffering from infertility scored significantly higher on all outcome measures of psychopathology. The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that the socio-demographic variables of the women with infertility contributed to the prediction of psychiatric morbidity (GDQ sacle), because of the effects of age, not having at least one child and lack of support from husband. Monthly family income, negligence of husband and violence by in laws family were important predicator for anxiety. Type of family, low level of education, unemployment were not found to be predictors of mental ill health.Conclusion: Infertility is associated with high levels of psychiatric morbidity. Our findings reinforce the need of attention, counseling and others advance psychological interventions for positive impact on outcome during treatment of this group of women.Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Journal Vol. 9, No. 1: Jan 2018, P 10-14

What Are the Issues Confronting Infertile Women? A Qualitative and Quantitative Approach

Infertility is a stressful experience, yet little is known about the specific issues confronting infertile women. In the present study, researchers sought to identify themes important to infertile women and examine possible associations with mental health levels. Using qualitative content analysis, researchers analyzed the email messages of 57 infertile women participating in a German-language Internet-based treatment for infertility. The themes most important to infertile women were emotions surrounding their wish for a child, coping with this unfulfilled wish, and medical aspects. Clinically anxious women reported substantially and significantly more negative and positive emotions than non-anxious women did (Mann-Whitney U(1)=178; p=0.034). Participants who were both clinically anxious and depressed reported more negative emotions and substantially fewer positive emotions when compared to participants who were solely anxious. The themes identified, considered important by infertile women, could be helpful to health professionals working in fertility treatment.