Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe Taiwanese female patients' perspectives of the relational changes toward self, spouse, family, extended family, friends and others, and sociocultural characteristics after being diagnosed with primary infertility. Thirteen female patients from the middle or higher socioeconomic class in southern Taiwan voluntarily participated in this study. They averaged 32.46 years old, 6.38 years' marriage, and 4.27 years of infertility medical treatment. A phenomenological qualitative research method with in-depth interviews was employed. The study found that infertile women's relationship connections revealed a multi-layered network and were affected by the accumulation of their negative emotions and the acquisition of empathy and mutuality from others. The changes of relationship connections were deeply influenced by the societal and cultural characteristics in Taiwan. Infertility significantly influenced the relationships of infertile women in multiple aspects, and these participants suffered from three stages of relational changes: acute disconnection, chronic disconnection, and relational reconstructions. The transformation of infertile women's relationship connections depended on the timing, the status of infertility diagnosis and treatment, and the acceptance of infertility. Finally, implications of clinical practice, education/training and research were delineated.