Mallard, JessicaDrumheller, Kristina2020-03-252020-03-252019-122020-02-28December 2https://hdl.handle.net/11310/277This study presents a grounded theory analysis of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 10 women who have experienced female factor infertility. The study sought to inquire about participants’ experiences related to emotional support during infertility. Five overarching themes were identified: concealing feelings, making unfavorable comparisons, feeling resentful, experiencing relational change, and desiring validation but receiving invalidation. Although past studies have indicated infertility is a dichotomous experience, connections were drawn in the current findings that indicate infertility is a cyclical process. Participants cycled through each of the five themes at some point in their infertility journeys, often experiencing each theme more than once at different times in their battle.application/pdfinfertilitygrounded theoryemotional supportThesis2020-03-25