The elusive pregnancy: choice & empowerment in medically assisted conception

Procreation is increasingly becoming a choice in OECD countries. Although a growing percentage of the population seems to be rejecting parenthood, others choose to procreate -but cannot. Considerable research indicates that inability to conceive alters identity, strains relationships, and diminishes selfesteem. This paper examines the meanings attributed to infertility and the perception of choices among couples undergoing medically assisted conception in New Zealand. Their discourses are influenced by gender, class and culture, but tend to conflate parenthood with normality, social inclusion and being a loving partner. Assisted conception can turn subfertile couples into ‘normal’ parents and can offer hope to others. However, instead of being empowering, it can also encourage some clients to prolong stressful treatments, to continue to live with uncertainty, and to postpone other life choices