A Phenomenological Exploration of Communication Barriers among Couples with Infertility in Kenya

Infertility is a global health challenge affecting one in every six couples of reproductive age. Despite its prevalence, the barriers that hinder effective communication about it between couples remain underexplored in literature. This phenomenological study examines the barriers that hinder effective interpersonal communication among couples living with infertility in Kenya. Data were generated through in-depth conversational interviews with five couples and analysed using reflexive analysis. Four themes emerged, including emotional distress, which flooded individuals, rendering dialogue impossible; communication withdrawal, where partners ‘put a wall’, shutting down their partners during crucial conversations; destructive criticism, including contempt, sarcasm, body-shaming, and blame that shifted focus from the shared struggle to character assault; and defensiveness, which was employed as a means of protecting oneself, but worsened into blame, accusations, and disconnection. The study calls on policymakers and society in general to dismantle barriers to effective interpersonal communication by cultivating spaces, habits, and expectations that prioritise face-to-face exchange in families, religious spaces, and public discourses on infertility, so that couples do not carry these barriers into their personal spaces.