For many, pregnancy is a beautiful time of change, discovery, growth, anticipation, and excitement; however, it is also a time that often ushers in great life changes and can upset the normalcy of life. It is a time that is sometimes long awaited and sometimes unexpected, sometimes desired and sometimes unwanted. It is a time of uncertainly and unknowns, because the end result of pregnancy is not always as expected, and tragically, one the most common adverse pregnancy outcomes is fetal death, which, for many, can lead to a significant crisis in one’s life (Da Silva et al., 2016). In fact, extensive research has shown that the experience of fetal death is significantly related to higher levels of psychiatric symptoms that are both acute and
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One study investigated the impact of recurrent miscarriage, specifically in regards to the psychological burden, erectile function, and sexual satisfaction of the male partner (Zhang et al., 2016). The study found that having a partner that experienced recurrent miscarriages was significantly correlated with erectile dysfunction, anxiety and depression, as well as lower reported sexual satisfaction (Zhang et al., 2016). Further investigating the partner impact, researchers studied the impact of miscarriage on the interpersonal and sexual relationships of couples, through the use of interviews with the women at one, six, sixteen, and fifty-four weeks following miscarriage about their relationship with their partner (Swanson, Z., Powell, & Pulvermakher, 2003). The interviews requested the woman’s assessment of how the miscarriage was affecting the couple’s interpersonal and sexual relationship, and found that at one year following the miscarriage, 32% of women reported that their interpersonal relationship was more distant and 39% reported that their sexual relationship was more distant (Swanson et al., 2003). These studies bring to light the impact that miscarriage can have not only on the woman, but on her spouse and their relationship, and provide a broader understanding of the implications of miscarriage and the support and care that is needed not only for the mother but for the partner as
One study investigated the impact of recurrent miscarriage, specifically in regards to the psychological burden, erectile function, and sexual satisfaction of the male partner (Zhang et al., 2016). The study found that having a partner that experienced recurrent miscarriages was significantly correlated with erectile dysfunction, anxiety and depression, as well as lower reported sexual satisfaction (Zhang et al., 2016). Further investigating the partner impact, researchers studied the impact of miscarriage on the interpersonal and sexual relationships of couples, through the use of interviews with the women at one, six, sixteen, and fifty-four weeks following miscarriage about their relationship with their partner (Swanson, Z., Powell, & Pulvermakher, 2003). The interviews requested the woman’s assessment of how the miscarriage was affecting the couple’s interpersonal and sexual relationship, and found that at one year following the miscarriage, 32% of women reported that their interpersonal relationship was more distant and 39% reported that their sexual relationship was more distant (Swanson et al., 2003). These studies bring to light the impact that miscarriage can have not only on the woman, but on her spouse and their relationship, and provide a broader understanding of the implications of miscarriage and the support and care that is needed not only for the mother but for the partner as