Social Construction of Female Infertility: A Qualitative Study of Women with Female Factor Infertility Diagnosis

Infertility, though a global reproductive problem, is uniquely constructed within different socio-cultural contexts. This study explored the social construction of the meaning of infertility among women by focusing on a sample of married women with female factor infertility diagnoses experiencing primary infertility in Kwara South, Nigeria. The study adopted a qualitative approach. Nine women were recruited through the snowball sampling technique. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis with Atlas.ti 8. The findings are presented in three themes: ‘when delay becomes a problem,’ ‘confirming suspicion,’ and ‘defining the situation.’ By exploring the perceptions of infertile women about infertility, one would debunk some dominant constructions about infertility and comprehend the world of infertile women better. Understanding this could also go a long way in shaping policies and programs to empower childless women and manage infertility