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Social Stigma
Ethnographic research into female infertility within “pronatalist developing societies” has shown that women who are infertile may be stigmatized, reflecting a deep-seated patriarchal belief system. In these societies, the vocation of motherhood is considered to be intrinsically linked to the notion of womanhood, so in effect, a woman’s infertility conflicts with normative concepts of gender identity. The woman’s inability to adopt this “mandatory status” and “gain entrance to the cult of motherhood”  often leads to dysfunctional relationships with the in-laws, extended family and community members, culminating in feelings of “isolation, loneliness and despair”. Furthermore, this cultural milieu can impact negatively on “marital dynamics”, possibly leading to “divorce or polygamous remarriage”.