THE EXPERIENCE OF INVITRO FERTILIZATION AND GAMETE INTRAFALLOPIAN TRANSFER

Research was conducted using qualitative techniques, in order to bridge the gap between radical feminist perspectives on in vitro fertilization programmes, which are usually theoretical in nature, and quantitative research which considers the experiences of women and couples involved in these programmes. Semi-focused interviews were carried out with 10 women who were currently undergoing, or had recently undergone, in vitro fertilization or gamete intra-fallopian transfer, in order to explore the experiences and the emotions associated with participation in these programmes. By utilizing a woman-centred approach, a richness of experiential data was obtained, which would not have been achievable by quantitative means, and yet the women involved were able to retain some control over the research process.