The experience of women using a self-help coping intervention for oocyte retrieval(CIFOR): A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: A treatment for infertility is in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The most painful part of in vitro fertilisation is the oocyte retrieval. The coping intervention for oocyte retrieval (CIFOR) was developed to deal with the stress and pain during an oocyte retrieval. CIFOR can give these women control over minor but important aspects of the oocyte retrieval procedure. A booklet has been produced with information about oocyte retrieval and potentially useful coping strategies to develop a personal coping plan for oocyte retrieval. This coping intervention requires further development. By using the Medical Research Counsel’s (MRC) framework one can establish whether the intervention is feasible for Dutch women who undergo an oocyte retrieval. Aim: To explore the experience of women who underwent an oocyte retrieval while using CIFOR. Design: A generic qualitative study. Method: Fifteen women who underwent a first, second, third or fourth IVF treatment participated in semi-structured interviews at an infertility clinic in the Netherlands. Background information about the IVF treatment was collected from medical files. Data was analysed using the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven. To process the data MAXQDA 10 was used. Results: This study identified five themes which are important in the experiences of women using CIFOR: 1) overall experience of CIFOR; 2) feasibility; 3) the need for information; 4) sense of control; and 5) partner’s involvement. Conclusion: This study showed that women tend to have a positive experience using CIFOR; and while it is valuable for the first oocyte retrieval, it is less useful for the second, third or fourth retrieval. Implication of key findings: Future research will involve performing a pilot study according to the MRC framework with outcomes based on the patient’s sense of control, ability to cope, coping strategies, anxiety and pain.