本研究的主旨是定義及描述臺灣北部地區不孕婦女所體驗之婚姻關係。研究目的含1.指出不孕症之基本因素（essential elements），及2.指出在不孕症的脈絡下之婚姻的基本因素。本研究以深度訪談之方式，計面談十五位個案，每位訪談兩次。第一次訪談皆錄音、轉譯，並於第二次面談時，由個案確認轉譯稿及因素。不孕症之基本因素含失敗感、遺憾、尋夢，及一個等待的過程。不孕症之婚姻的基本因素含一個連結過程、較乏緊密連結性、有風險性、同舟共濟、努力懷孕、維持和睦、及婚姻重塑。根據這些因素及基本架構，研究者提出以下建議(一)病友會宜採同質性高的小型聚會為主，牌病友間的對話。(二)順應臺灣高科技發展之趨勢，宜針對不孕症建立電子諮商與衛教系統。(三)護理教育宜涵蓋中國人的哲理及價值觀形成的探討，審視自己的價值觀，進而增進與病患對話的能力。

　　　　　The main goal of this study was to define and describe marital relationship as perceived by infertile women in northern Taiwan. Aims of this study included: 1) identify the essential elements of infertility; and 2) identify the essential elements of marital relationship within the context of infertility. Fifteen subjects were interviewed twice. Initial conversations were audiotaped and transcribed; transcripts were used to identify potential themes and to verify certain points made by each subject. Major themes of infertility identified were a sense of failure, I-Han, pursuit of a dream, and enduring a waiting process. Relationship themes were identified as a connecting process, feeling a lack of connection, taking risks, T'ung chou kung chi ("we are at the same boat"), making efforts to get pregnant, maintaining harmony, and refocusing/relocating a marriage. The author made three recommendations to health professionals: 1). Encourage infertile couples to establish small and homogeneous support groups to help each other, 2). Encourage infertile couples to establish computer-based support groups, and 3). Enhance nurses' ability to communicate with patients through improving nursing education emphasizing Chinese philosophy and its impacts on health issues.