The patient undergoing infertility treatment reports to the nurse that her partner is angry all of the time since beginning treatment and is very negative in comments made about the likelihood of their achieving pregnancy

Question

The patient states, "I was angry and depressed, but now I am dedicated to following through with treatment and hoping we get pregnant." What is the best interpretation of these comments? The partner is:
1. Exhibiting signs of the anger stage of grieving the loss of their dreams of having children.
2. In a different stage of grief than the patient.
3. Having difficulty accepting the reality of their infertility.
4. Showing that he will not be a good parent.
5. Feeling guilty about not being able to father a child.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1,2
Rationale 1: The patient's description of her partner correlates with the anger stage of grief. Couples often experience the stages of grief when infertility is diagnosed because childbearing is an expected outcome in marriage; the inability to become pregnant is the loss of the dream of parenthood.
Rationale 2: The patient is in acceptance stage of grief, while the partner is in the anger stage. It is common and normal for families to be in different stages of the grieving process.
Rationale 3: The partner is in the anger stage of grief. Lack of acceptance would manifest as not believing that the diagnosis is correct.
Rationale 4: Being in the anger stage of grief is expected and normal and has no bearing on parenting ability.
Rationale 5: Guilt would manifest as feelings that it is his fault that pregnancy has not yet occurred. The patient is describing anger.