Date of Conferral

8-2-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Susana Verdinelli

Abstract

Infertility affects individuals across all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds; however, the lived experiences of women of color navigating infertility remain underrepresented in research, health care, and policy. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore the lived experiences of infertility among women of color. The specific aims of the study were to (a) understand the significance of cultural values in shaping these experiences, with a focus on cultural norms surrounding motherhood and fertility, and (b) gain insight on the ways in which women of color seek assistance. The conceptual framework integrated the biopsychosocial model, stress and coping theory, and stigma theory. Sixteen women of color, ages 23–49, participated in in-depth, semistructured interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using IPA principles to capture the depth and complexity of participants’ experiences. Findings revealed a multiphase journey characterized by emotional distress; cultural stigma; medical barriers; and, ultimately, healing and advocacy. Participants described the psychological toll of repeated loss, self-blame, and social isolation, as well as the difficulty of navigating inaccessible and unresponsive health care systems. The study has the potential to contribute to positive social change by informing the development of culturally responsive reproductive health policies and practices. Drawing from the study, healthcare providers, policy makers, and community advocates may be able to expand access to inclusive infertility care, reduce stigma in marginalized communities, and promote equitable reproductive health services that are attuned to the lived experiences of women of color.

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