Conjugal experiences of cis-heterosexual men and women facing infertility / Vivências conjugais de homens e mulheres cis-heterossexuais frente a infertilidade

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9789/2175-5361.rpcfo.v18.14674

Keywords:

Gender and health; Marital Status; Marriage.

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the conjugal experiences of cis-heterosexual men and women facing infertility. Methodology: Qualitative descriptive-exploratory study with data collection via snowball sampling technique and semi-structured interviews. Bardin's Content Analysis supported by IRAMUTEQ software. Fourteen individuals participated (7 cis-heterosexual infertile couples). Results: Findings evidenced gender differences in coping with infertility: women described strong emotional impact, feelings of loneliness, lack of partner support for treatments, and changes in sexual life, while men assumed roles of emotional support, suppressing their feelings and reaffirming their masculinity. Conjugality was affected by infertility, generating emotional tensions, affective distancing, and considerations of marital separation. Final considerations: Infertility transcends the clinical dimension, also characterizing as an emotional, relational experience rooted in gender issues. Thus, for comprehensive care, nurses should promote couple dialogue, stress management, and psychological support.

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Author Biographies

Jessika Afonso Castro, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Nurse graduated from the Federal University of Viçosa (2013). PhD candidate in Nursing, with a concentration in Nursing, Biosciences, Health, Environment, and Care at UNIRIO. Holds a Master’s degree in Health Education: Interdisciplinary Teaching Training for the SUS, with a research focus on Continuing Education in the Unified Health System (SUS), from EEAAC/Fluminense Federal University (UFF) (2019). Specialist in Family Health from the University of Brasília (UnB) (2015).

Public servant at the Federal Institute of Rio de Janeiro, serving as a nurse and faculty member of the Nursing Undergraduate Program at Faculdade Vértix-UNIVÉRTIX, Brazil. Currently, she is a member of the Structured Teaching Core (NDE) of the Nursing Program at Faculdade Vértix-UNIVÉRTIX.

She has experience in the field of Public Health, focusing primarily on the following topics: Family Health Strategy, Women’s Health, Continuing Health Education, and Public Management. She served as Coordinator of Elderly Health in the municipality of Mendes-RJ from 2016 to 2017, and as a nurse in the Family Health Strategy in the municipality of Vassouras/RJ from 2013 to 2017.

Adriana Lemos , Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Professor in the Department of Public Health Nursing at the Alfredo Pinto School of Nursing, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Holds a PhD in Public Health from the Institute of Social Medicine at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (IMS/UERJ) (2008). Earned a Master’s degree in Educational Technology in Health Sciences from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (NUTES/UFRJ) (1999). Completed a specialization in Public Health at the National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (ENSP/FIOCRUZ) (1994). Graduated in Nursing and Obstetrics from the Fluminense Federal University (1990).

Leader of the research group (CNPq Directory): Laboratory for Studies on Gender, Health, and Sexual and Reproductive Rights (LEGS). Advisor to the Academic League on Gender, Sexuality, and Health (LAGS). Coordinator of the Graduate Program (Master’s in Nursing-PPGENF/UNIRIO) from September 2019 to March 2025, and faculty member of the Graduate Program in Nursing and Biosciences (PPGENFBIO).

Has experience in the field of Public Health, working mainly on the following topics: nursing, primary health care, gender, sexual and reproductive rights, and health education.

 

Selma Villas Boas Teixeira , Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

PhD in Nursing in the field of Women's Health from the Anna Nery School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), since 2010. Holds a Bachelor's degree in Nursing with a specialization in Obstetrics from the Anna Nery School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1989). Specialist in Hospital Administration (1994). Master’s degree in Nursing in the field of Women's Health from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO) (2005).

Professor in the Stricto Sensu Graduate Program in Nursing at UNIRIO (Master’s level – PPGENFBIO). Retired Associate Professor from the Maternal and Child Department of the Alfredo Pinto School of Nursing – UNIRIO. Member of the following research groups: Nursing Studies in the Perinatal Area and Women's Health Across the Life Cycle, and the Laboratory for Studies on Gender, Health, and Sexual and Reproductive Rights. Member of ABENFO-RJ (Brazilian Association of Obstetric Nurses and Midwives).

Lilian Fernandes Arial Ayres, Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the Alfredo Pinto School of Nursing (2004), a Master’s degree in Nursing from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO) (2010), and a PhD in Nursing and Biosciences from UNIRIO (2014). Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Federal University of Viçosa. Specialist in Women’s Health from IFF and Fiocruz, and in Natural Gynecology from Natureza Medicinal.

She has experience in the field of Nursing, with an emphasis on Nursing care, focusing primarily on the following topics: women’s health, integrative and complementary health practices, and patient care.

Simone Mendes Carvalho, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO, 2001), a Master’s degree in Nursing from UNIRIO (2004), and a PhD in Public Health Sciences from the National School of Public Health Sérgio Arouca (ENSP/Fiocruz, 2009).

Currently, she is an Associate Professor IV in the Department of Public Health Nursing at UNIRIO. Member of the CNPq Research Groups: Nursing and Collective Health Knowledge (UNIRIO).

Her experience is in Public Health, focusing primarily on the following topics: Primary Health Care, Gender, Health Promotion, Family Health, Yoga and Health, and Integrative Health Practices.

Lucia Helena Garcia Penna, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Holds a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (1984) and a specialization in Obstetric Nursing from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) (1985), a specialization in Higher Education Teaching Methodology (Faculty of Education, UERJ, 1985), a specialization in Women’s Health and Social Obstetrics (UERJ, 1992), a Master’s degree in Nursing from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO, 1997), and a PhD in Child and Women’s Health from the Fernandes Figueiras Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz, 2005).

Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the Maternal and Child Nursing Department and the Graduate Program in Nursing at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). She has experience in the field of Nursing, with an emphasis on Women’s Health – Obstetric Nursing, focusing primarily on the following topics: women’s health, obstetric nursing, reproductive health, nursing care, violence, gender, sexuality, and prenatal nursing consultation.

Leader of the Research Group: GENDER, VIOLENCE, AND HEALTH AND NURSING PRACTICES.

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Published

2026-05-22 — Updated on 2026-06-19

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1.
Afonso Castro J, Lemos A, Villas Boas Teixeira S, Fernandes Arial Ayres L, Mendes Carvalho S, Helena Garcia Penna L. Conjugal experiences of cis-heterosexual men and women facing infertility / Vivências conjugais de homens e mulheres cis-heterossexuais frente a infertilidade. Rev. Pesqui. (Univ. Fed. Estado Rio J., Online) [Internet]. 2026Jun.19 [cited 2026Jul.8];18:e-14674. Available from: https://seer.unirio.br/cuidadofundamental/article/view/14674

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