Table 2 Reflective thematic analysis: from codes to themes
From: Experiences of infertile women pursuing treatment in Kenya: a qualitative study
Codes | Sub-themes | Themes |
|---|---|---|
Constantly worried and anxious about treatment outcome | Emotional distressing | Challenges encountered during fertility treatment |
Depressed about visiting different hospitals and gynecologists | ||
Going through the treatment is a lonely experience | ||
Progesterone shots are painful as they are injected deep into the muscle | Physical pain | |
Egg retrieval was the most brutal and most painful procedure | ||
Experience severe bloating and headache after taking fertility medication | ||
Applying for a loan to pay for my treatment | Financial constraining | |
Asking our family and friends for money to pay for surgery | ||
Only can access treatment because of an NHIF card | ||
Loss of sexual interest | Relationship with their husband | Impacts of fertility treatment on relationships |
He started drinking excessively and became verbally abusive | ||
He became work alcoholic | ||
Become more emotionally connected (Positive effect) | ||
Feeling hopeful again about becoming parents (Positive effect) | ||
The mother-in-law is not happy | Relationship with their family | |
Intrusive questions about the treatment process | ||
Offering unnecessary advice | ||
Lack of closure of treatment journey due to perceiving pressure and fear of their children being stigmatized | ||
Very disappointed with their best friend | Relationship with their friends | |
Loss of friends during the treatment process | ||
Some friends ask intrusive questions about treatment | ||
Reading the Bible and praying | Religious practices and personal faith | Coping with fertility treatment |
Believing in Allah | ||
Crying, especially during menses | Giving in to feelings | |
Neglect doing their daily activities such as taking a shower | ||
Indulging themselves by buying new outfits and bags or dinner | ||
Deciding to pursue higher education | Shifting focus | |
Involved more in voluntary work | ||
Taking a break for two years from treatment | Taking a break | |
Taking a break for some months to rest | ||
Staying with nieces who helped with simple chores | Staying with their relative’s children | |
Staying with nephews to create a complete family feeling | ||
The husband accompanied his wife during a hospital appointment | Receiving support from others | |
Mother is very supportive in that she gives advice and encourages during the treatment process | ||
Friends have been supportive during the treatment process |