Bulacan State University

City of Malolos Bulacan

COLLEGE OF NURSING

CARE OF MOTHER, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT (WELL CLIENTS)

NCM 107 Hand- out No: 2b

NURSING CARE OF INFERTILE COUPLE

A. Assessment
1. Common diagnostic studies to detect physiological factors associated with infertility

a. Female
1. Basal Body Temperature (BBT), or resting body temperature
 Obtained by the woman taking her oral temperature each day prior to arising
from bed and graphing the results on a month long graph
 Sudden dip occurs the day prior to ovulation and is followed by a rise of .5 to 1
degree F, which indicates ovulation; this rise will remain until menstruation
begins
 Fertility awareness: includes monitoring the BBT and cervical mucus changes
to detect ovulation

2. Serum Hormone Testing: venous blood is drawn from infertile women to assess
levels of FSH and LH, which are indicators of ovarian functions

3. Postcoital exam
 Exam that occurs 8-12 hours’ post- intercourse, 1or 2 days before expected
ovulation
 Secretions are examined for:
 Signs of infection
 Number of active and non-motile spermatozoa
 Sperm- mucus interaction
 Consistency of cervical mucus

4. Endometrial biopsy
 Obtaining an endometrial tissue sample for examination

5. Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
 Detects uterine anomalies

6. Laparoscopy

b. Male semen analysis

 Client ejaculates into specimen container
 Ejaculate is examined microscopically for:
 Number
  Morphology
 Motility

c. Male and female partner: anti- sperm antibody evaluation of cervical mucus and ejaculate
are tested for agglutination, an indication that secretory immunological reactions are occurring
between cervical mucus and spermatozoa.

2. Psychological factors associated with infertility

 Many couples experience shame, guilt, blame, or stages of grief when diagnosed with
infertility as well as during treatment for infertility

B. Priority Nursing Diagnosis:

1. Compromised Family Coping
2. Deficient Knowledge
3. Anxiety
4. Situational low self esteem

C. Implementation and collaborative care:

1. Education on how to:
a. Perform various procedures
b. The meaning of the results of tests and assessment
c. Self-monitoring during medication administration, and how assisted reproductive technologies are
performed

2. Hormonal therapy
3. Medications
4. Sperm washing for intrauterine insemination
5. Intrauterine insemination is a form of artificial insemination
6. In vitro insemination (IVF)
7. Gamete intra fallopian transfer (GIFT)
8. Tubal embryo transfer (TET)
9. Zygote intra fallopian transfer (ZIFT)

D. Evaluation-
1. The couple’s knowledge is increased regarding:
 Diagnostic studies
 Infertility problem
 Infertility treatment options
2. Clients experience decreased anxiety regarding infertility
3. The clients share their feelings openly
4. The clients make an informed decision to pursue or not pursue treatment for fertility