Living as an infertile woman
A qualitative analysis of narratives by Kerala women
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22433654 |
|---|---|
| Authors | J B Aswathy (Government of Kerala), Sonia George (Government of Kerala) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-29 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | East European Journal of Psycholinguistics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2312-3265 • E-ISSN: 2313-2116 |
| Publisher | Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (PUBLISHER • UA) |
| DOI | 10.29038/eejpl.2026.13.1.asw |
| OpenAlex | W7167367037 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 20 |
Fertility is defined as the capacity to produce offspring through reproduction following the onset of sexual maturity. Infertility is a global issue with a high prevalence in India. Although only a portion of infertility cases are attributed to female factors, the inability to conceive is often solely assigned to women, who are frequently blamed even when the cause of infertility does not relate to them. The aim of the present study was to identify factors related to infertility among women based on linguistic features of their narratives. Five married women from various age groups (30–50 years), socioeconomic backgrounds, and regions of Kerala were selected for the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis revealed eight main themes: feelings upon being identified as infertile, postponement of pregnancy, interactions within the social environment, discouraging comments from others, conflict and understanding between spouses and families, coping with infertility, discussions with friends, and the meaning of life. Culture and social environment seem to influence the experiences of women with infertility. The way they perceive the importance of motherhood depends largely on societal messages and beliefs. This study contributes to understanding the cultural and social implications of infertility, thereby informing the provision of counselling and treatment to improve women's well-being. Disclosure Statement The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.
Ambivalence · Feeling · Fertility · Infertility · Narrative · Qualitative research · Socioeconomic status · Thematic analysis · Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes · Ovarian function and disorders · Reproductive Health and Technologies
| Highly cited | No |
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