Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Evidence from a Needs Analysis (2006) and Patient Satisfaction Survey (2008) for people with pituitary conditions suggested infertility was a key yet unexpected problem for the majority of respondents. Being infertile without the co-morbidity of pituitary condition confers a huge emotional burden on the individual. The aim of this piece of research was to investigate individual’s perceptions of managing infertility following a diagnosis of a pituitary condition.

Method: A questionnaire comprising 12 open-ended questions was posted to 100 people with a variety of pituitary conditions (61% response rate; 45 females and 16 males; mean age =49; 61% with a prolactinoma and 39% with hypopitutiarism). The participant responses were analysed independently by two researchers using Inductive Thematic analysis.

Results: Four major themes emerged: infertility, coping and managing; feelings and emotional impact; relationship impact. Participants described the emotional and cost implications of infertility and their ability to cope with its consequences. Views varied with some participants describing their acceptance of infertility and an ability to move on while others described deep regret and bitterness. Those who were able to move on described their struggle with the additional burden of the demanding infertility treatment, while juggling daily condition management regimens. Their experiences were often affected by the attitudes of others and societal expectations: where to have children is normal behaviour and childlessness is considered selfish. Several explained how infertility demasculinised or defeminised them, resulting in a feeling of being ‘incomplete’.

Conclusion: Understanding the psychological impact of infertility on this client group is essential if we are to create opportunities to facilitate the acquisition of skills to reduce distress and enable individuals to better manage the attitudes and expectations of others in their lives.