Infertility and the Bible: How Women Use Their Personal Faith, Scripture and the Church When Struggling With Infertility Open Access

Abstract

Objective: To assess how Atlanta-based Christian women relate to their faith, scripture and the
church when faced with infertility.

Methods: The data for this study were collected through a cross-sectional qualitative study
utilizing in-depth interviews. Thirty interviews were conducted with women aged twenty-three to
fifty-six (Mean 40.6, SD 8.0). Data were analyzed using the grounded theory approach allowing
main themes to emerge from the data. Exegetical analysis was conducted on the four most
mentioned scripture passages.

Results: Given the elements of the infertility narrative consistently experienced by infertile
women, faith played a key role in the decision-making process about infertility treatments.
Women also called upon their faith when transitioning from one treatment option to another, and
in the realization and acceptance that they may not be able to bear biological children. The ways
women made meaning of their situations revealed the different theologies held by infertile
women. Women referenced over thirty-five different scriptures, but four Biblical narratives about
infertility and barrenness were mentioned most frequently. While a few churches offered support
to women experiencing infertility, this was not the norm. In many churches there is silence
around the issue of infertility. The cycle of silence around infertility is perpetuated because
pastors are unaware of women's struggle with infertility, do not discuss it within the church and
therefore churches do not offer support services. The cycle continues, as women do not publicly
share their struggle with infertility.

Conclusions: Churches are in desperate need of avenues to raise awareness and educate
congregations about infertility. Pastors and priests should be knowledgeable about the prevalence
of and emotional responses to infertility and be available to women struggling with infertility.
Theological education is denying future church leaders the training necessary to counsel infertile
congregants and break the cycle of silence. The medical community should be discussing
perceptions about women's personal beliefs and the role of faith in regard to infertility treatment.
The medical community should provide infertile women with resources for grief counseling, and
referrals should be made to chaplains and other supportive resources upon infertility diagnoses
and unsuccessful infertility treatments.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents


Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................. 1

1.2 Definition of Terms ................................................................... 6

Chapter 2: A Review of the Literature ......................................... 9

Chapter 3: Methodology ............................................................ 23

Chapter 4: Results .................................................................... 32
4.1 Elements of the Infertility Narrative Consistently

Experienced by Infertile Women .................................................... 33
4.2 The Role of Faith During the Infertility Journey .......................... 38
4.3 Meaning Making ..................................................................... 44
4.4 The Use of Scripture by Women Struggling with Infertility............. 46
4.5 The Role of the Church ............................................................ 49

Chapter 5: Scriptural Analysis ................................................... 57
5.1 The Story of Hannah ............................................................... 58
5.2 The Story of Sarah .................................................................. 64
5.3 Be Fruitful and Multiply ............................................................ 69
5.4 Not My Will, But Your Will ........................................................ 73

Chapter 6: Discussion and Implications .................................... 77
6.1 Summary of Key Findings ....................................................... 77
6.2 Discussion ............................................................................ 79
6.3 Implications for Future Research .............................................. 85
6.4 Recommendations for Other Women Struggling with Infertility ...... 86
6.5 Recommendations for the Medical Community ............................ 88
6.6 Recommendations for Faith Communities................................... 90

6.7 Concluding Remarks ............................................................... 92

Appendices ................................................................................93

End Notes ................................................................................ 115

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Hubert Department of Global Health
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health
Keyword	Infertility Decision-Making Infertility Narrative Church Faith Scripture Silence Cycle of Silence Support Infertility Treatment Religion Infertility Barrenness
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Girard, Amy Webb, Emory University
Committee Members	Erskine, Noel L, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs

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