Background: Infertility is a major reproductive health challenge that affects women physically, socially, and emotionally. In Nigeria, strong cultural expectations surrounding childbearing increase the emotional burden experienced by women undergoing fertility treatment. Although advances in assisted reproductive technologies have improved treatment outcomes, emotional support within fertility care remains inadequate in many healthcare settings.
Methods: This study explored the emotional experiences of women undergoing fertility treatment at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and examined their perceptions of nursing support. A qualitative phenomenological design was adopted. Twenty women receiving fertility treatment at UPTH were purposively selected and interviewed using semi-structured interview guides. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. NVivo Version 12 software was used to support coding and data organisation.
Results: Four major themes emerged from the findings: emotional distress, coping mechanisms, nursing support experiences, and gaps in fertility care. Participants reported anxiety, sadness, fear of treatment failure, emotional exhaustion, and fear of marital instability. Women relied on faith, spousal support, family support, and personal resilience to cope with these challenges. Participants appreciated nurses who provided reassurance, empathy, and clear explanations about treatment procedures. However, women also identified important gaps in care, including inadequate emotional support, poor communication, lack of psychological counselling, and limited opportunities for support groups.
Conclusion: Women undergoing fertility treatment experience considerable emotional and psychological challenges. Although nurses play an important supportive role, emotional care within fertility services remains insufficient. Integrating psychological counselling, improving communication, strengthening fertility nursing practice, and developing patient-centred support systems may improve the overall wellbeing and treatment experiences of women undergoing fertility treatment.