Time experience during the assisted reproductive journey: a phenomenological analysis of Italian couples' narratives

Objective: This study explores the time experience of Italian couples undergoing medically assisted reproductive procedures. Background: Research has mainly focused on the motivation for childbearing and the impact of infertility on women, with little attention given to the couple's experience during assisted reproduction procedures. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with nine women and seven men undergoing a medically assisted reproductive programme at a fertility clinic in Italy. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. Results: Four main themes were identified: present moment, waiting, hope, and death. Each theme describes the experiences of the study participants and was linked to their personal identities and body perceptions. Conclusion: Time is a significant dimension in understanding participants' experience because it represents the contradictory emotions and expectations that characterise a medically assisted reproductive journey. Health professionals might take into account the indications derived from these results to forge their approach to patients' needs, and policymakers might adjust the organisation of the medically assisted reproductive system to patients' time experience.