不妊にまつわる悩みの相談 : 大阪府不妊専門相談事業の取り組み  [in Japanese] An inquiry into infertility counseling services in Osaka prefecture  [in Japanese]

2002年度大阪府不妊専門相談事業における医療以外の相談内容を検討した。調査は事業開始2002年6月〜2003年3月, 電話および面接相談すべてを対象とした。不妊相談記録票は属性や主な相談内容を選択式, 相談対応は自由記述である。これらを内容ごとに分類, 検討した。倫理的配慮として, 記録原票を持ち出さないよう相談内容を転記した。結果, 電話相談は328件, 面接相談は29件で, 電話相談は313名(95.4%)が女性であった。産婦人科外来受診か否かを悩む相談が194名(59.1%)と最も多く, 治療内容の是非114名(34.8%), 医療機関情報82名(16.1%), 不妊の原因や検査80名(15.7%)であった。産婦人科外来受診か否かを悩む相談を分析したところ「妊娠できるのか」「子どもが欲しい」「妊娠しないことに気づく」「治療が必要なのか」「受診をしたほうがいいのか」「夫との気持ちのずれ」「高まる周囲のプレッシャー」「治療中断者の葛藤」という8カテゴリーが抽出された。当相談事業では, 不妊状態に悩み, さらに治療前後から子育てにいたるまでの女性の不安に対応できる相談窓口として充実させる必要性が示唆された。

In 2002, Osaka started an Infertility Counseling Service. This study is aimed at exploring preliminary gynecologist consultations for potential clients. Infertility counseling records from June 2002 to March 2003, including a demographic data form and a summary of previous counseling, were used in this analysis. A descriptive framework was utilized to study recent counseling details and trends. Three hundred and twenty-eight men and women were counseled by telephone, and twenty-eight women were counseled in person. The number of women who used the telephone counseling service was three hundred and thirteen (95.4 %). Most cases were preliminary to consultation with a gynecologist (59.1 %). Other types of counseling included : information about the pros and cons of treatment (34.8 %), information about medical institutions (16.1 %), and inquiries about causes of infertility and the examination process (15.7 %). Study of the summary of the counseling revealed eight themes concerning worries of infertility : 1) Possibility of pregnancy, 2) Intention to have a child, 3) Recognition of the ability to become pregnant, 4) Necessity of treatment, 5) Necessity to consult with a gynecologist, 6) Concerns about partners, 7) Feeling pressure from relatives, and 8) Concerns about previous interruption in treatment. The findings suggested that it is necessary for infertility counseling services to provide stronger emotional support for not only women who are concerned about infertility but also for women who have been bearing and raising children with assistance from infertility treatments.