Are GPs unsympathetic to infertile women? The National Infertility Awareness Campaign (NIAC) published results from their most recent patient survey on 27th August 2012, based on responses from 456 patients collected in 2011. While 78% of responders indicated their GP was sympathetic and helpful, almost 50% also said they felt their GP lacked the necessary knowledge of infertility and treatment options available to provide an effective service. Clare Lewis-Jones, Chief Executive of NIAC, suggested this could explain why some patients (22%) with fertility issues perceive their GPs as unsympathetic.1
Dr Clare Gerada, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners said in an interview with the Guardian:
‘[GPs] should be supportive because infertility is a hidden pain. That’s something we need to do something about and ensure that the profession is sympathetic’.2
In response to this survey, perhaps it is worth considering again the findings of our recent study.3 The interview study asked women and men facing infertility about their experiences of primary care, and then presented the findings to a focus group of GPs.
Patients talked about the importance of being taken seriously and not feeling fobbed off by their GP. The GPs stressed how protocols drive their approach to patients who are potentially infertile but that it was often hard to explain. The GPs also discussed how hard it can be to demonstrate that they are taking patients seriously while also reassuring them that the problem is likely to resolve without treatment. They will often see patients who, with a bit more time, will conceive without need for specialist referrals.
Some GPs will rarely see couples with infertility, whereas others will see a reasonable number. The GPs in our study agreed offering support and reassurance was an appropriate role for GPs. It was suggested that the most effective way of communicating this was drawing up an action plan and flagging the patients’ notes so their treatment can be followed up, or questions raised at their next consultation. These simple steps could go a long way to reassuring the patient that their concerns are being taken seriously.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2012