Effect of an infertility counseling program on perceived stigma among infertile female candidates for intra-uterine insemination

Background & aim: Inability in childbearing is considered a deviation from the norms; therefore, the stigmatized women need to develop some effective strategies to meet this tough challenge. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of infertility counseling programs on perceived stigma among infertile women who were candidates for intrauterine insemination. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 135 women referring to the infertility center, Zahedan, Iran, during July 7th to December 12th, 2018. The subjects in the intervention group were invited to take part in a three-session counseling program, whereas the control group received the routine care. The perceived stigma was evaluated using the Infertility Stigma Scale. The data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 21) using Fisher’s exact test, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and independent t-test. Results: Theresults indicated that women in the intervention group expressed less infertility stigma, as compared to the control group (P <0.001). Additionally, these women manifested less infertility stigma in subscales including public stigma (23.42±2.84 vs. 12.52±2.14; P<0.001), self-devaluation (19.58±2.04 vs.9.65±1.50; P<0.001), social withdrawal (14.04±1.65 vs.7.25±1.54; P<0.001), and family stigma (12.70±1.94 vs. 9.23±1.72; P<0.001) after the intervention. Conclusion: Infertility counseling can help women to remedy their sense of self-devaluation. Additionally, establishment of close relationship with others and appropriate release of innermost feelings and thoughts can decrease the perceived public and social stigma.