Exploring the Impact of Infertility on Life of Couples treating for infertility: A Qualitative Study at the Infertility Clinic, Teaching Hospital Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Background: Infertility is a major life stressor that affects couples’ well-being across multiple dimensions. Beyond its physiological implications, infertility can have profound effects on marital intimacy, social relationships, and psychological health. Although previous studies have examined the psychosocial consequences of infertility, limited evidence is available from Sri Lanka, particularly from the Northern Province, where sociocultural expectations surrounding childbearing may uniquely shape couples’
experiences. Therefore, there is a need to explore the context-specific impact of infertility on the social, marital, and psychological lives of affected couples.

Objective: To explore the impact of infertility on the social, marital, and psychological life of couples attending the Infertility Clinic at the Teaching Hospital Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants (10 infertile couples) recruited purposively from the infertility clinic. Data were analyzed using content analysis as outlined by Sirilakshmi et al. (2024).

Findings: Three major themes emerged: (1) Infertility impacted on my marital and sexual relationships, (2) How infertility affects my social interactions and lifestyle, and (3) How my mental well-being affected by infertility. Infertility led to tension and emotional distance in marital relationships, social withdrawal and stigma in community interactions, and significant emotional distress including anxiety, guilt, and depression.

Conclusion: Infertility profoundly influences couples’ relational, social, and emotional well-being. Integrating psychosocial counselling, couple therapy and culturally sensitive nursing interventions into infertility management could mitigate these effects.