Infertility Challenges for Orthodox Jewish Couples
Antioch University
2020
115
Psy.D.
Antioch University
2020
This dissertation discusses an issue that is of importance to many people throughout their lifetime-infertility. One in every eight couples (12%) is incapable of carrying a pregnancy to term after one year of natural attempts. This paper further examines the prevalence of infertility among couples, bringing into focus more common variables such as gender and age. But, going beyond these, the present study will demonstrate that other variables including stressors such as social factors, interpersonal dynamics, and personal judgment affect couples in a manner which indirectly reduces their chances of conceiving a child. This research will touch on a number of such stressors, but it will focus in particular on the factors that account for infertility among Orthodox Jewish couples. Using thorough personal interviews, the present study discovered themes of protective factors and stressors that result from the traditions and laws of the Orthodox Jewish population; some of the themes were found to be unique to this population. This study emphasizes the importance of higher awareness of infertility in the Orthodox Jewish community, and discusses important clinical implications and recommendations in providing this information to the community. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, http://aura.antioch.edu/ and the OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu