TY - JOUR
T1 - Support for Lesbian Couples Navigating Fertility Treatment
T2 - An Ecological Systems Perspective
AU - Rausch, Meredith A.
AU - Wikoff, Haley D.
AU - Newton, Therese
N1 - Funding Information:
We used purposive sampling for this study to provide rich data for this specific population. Eligible participants were English speaking, self-identified lesbians over the age of 18, in a coupled relationship, and who had used or were currently using a fertility treatment process to achieve pregnancy. We recruited participants using a national organization’s online Facebook group page and provided interested parties with a Qualtrics survey, used to gather demographic information, and schedule a phone or face-to-face interview. This research received funding from a student grant from ALGBTIC (now SAIGE) to compensate participants. This funding determined the total number of participants.
Funding Information:
This research was made partially possible through a grant provided by the ALGBTIC (now SAIGE) division of the American Counseling Association.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - In this study, we examined the experiences of support for lesbian couples that navigated the fertility process. Using a sample of seven couples, we explored the support across Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems. Participants perceived support from themselves and their partner/spouse, chosen families, family members, other lesbian couples, and the medical community. Participants described stressful factors such as finances, emotional and physical stress, heteronormativity in the medical community, lack of support from family, and loss of pregnancy. The use of Relational Cultural Theory may be helpful to lesbian couples looking to expand their families through reproductive methods.
AB - In this study, we examined the experiences of support for lesbian couples that navigated the fertility process. Using a sample of seven couples, we explored the support across Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems. Participants perceived support from themselves and their partner/spouse, chosen families, family members, other lesbian couples, and the medical community. Participants described stressful factors such as finances, emotional and physical stress, heteronormativity in the medical community, lack of support from family, and loss of pregnancy. The use of Relational Cultural Theory may be helpful to lesbian couples looking to expand their families through reproductive methods.
KW - Counseling
KW - ecological systems
KW - fertility
KW - lesbian
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106061562&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85106061562&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15538605.2021.1914279
DO - 10.1080/15538605.2021.1914279
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85106061562
SN - 1553-8605
VL - 15
SP - 224
EP - 239
JO - Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling
JF - Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling
IS - 2
ER -
