Father’s Experience of Pregnancy in the Context of Assisted ReproductionABSTRACT
When plans to become parents cannot be realized due to infertility, and when the couple resort to Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), the construction of fatherhood may be affected. The objective of this qualitative study with 13 men whose partners conceived through ART and were in their third trimester of pregnancy was to investigate the experience of pregnancy according to the fathers’ perceptions. Content analysis of the interviews showed that the majority of participants was involved with pregnancy and the baby, and also accepted the idea of becoming a father. It is noteworthy that this experience was permeated by the repercussions of infertility and its treatment, which may lead to difficulties and specificities to fatherhood. In this context, in which the desire to become a father and the possibility to fulfill such a dream are difficult since the beginning, the authors suggest that these men may be supported by mental health professionals.
Keywords: fatherhood; assisted reproductive technologies; pregnancy