Infertility and in vitro fertilization: the social worker's role.

The inability to have children may provoke a life crisis for a couple, and infertility treatment itself is usually stressful. After examining the psychosocial impact of infertility and the various options available to infertile couples, this article describes a hospital-based, in vitro fertilization program and the role of the social worker in supporting patients through the course of complicated and anxiety-producing medical procedures.