Skip to main content

Table 1 Thematic map of analysis

From: Threat of biographical disruption: the gendered construction and experience of infertility following cancer for women and men

Threat of biographical disruption: Impact of infertility on life course and identity

  “It’s is hard to feel like a true adult until you have a child”: Parenthood as central to adulthood

   Born to be a parent: Desire for parenthood

   Parenthood as central to adult identity:

  “I feel like an inadequate failure”: Infertility as a threat to gender identity

   Fraudulent woman: Infertility as a threat to femininity

   Inferior and impotent: Threat to masculine identity

  “The worst part is waiting and worrying”: Unknown fertility status and delayed parenthood

   Uncertainty and anxiety of fertility status

   Difficulty of needing to wait

   Impact of cancer on future children

   Men avoiding fertility assessment

  “Mourning the loss of future children”: Feelings of loss and grief

  “Being made to feel more inadequate on a regular basis”: Absence of understanding and support

   Conflict or withdrawal: absence of partner support

   Judgement or discomfort: negative responses of friends and family

   Absence of understanding or information from health care professionals.

  “Having children is second to living”: Benefit finding and renegotiation of identity

   Accepting a life without children

   Nurturing through other means

   Re-evaluating life priorities – renegotiating identity

   Importance of support from significant others

   Health care professional support