Female fertility aligns with Paterson’s theory of shifting
perspectives,7 as living with one’s fertility is an ongoing and
continually shifting process. Throughout life’s transitions and
changing circumstances, fertility may be something that is
desired, whereas other times fertility may be unwanted,
suppressed, or disregarded.8 From menarche through childbearing
years, women live with and manage their fertility.
Menarche is a major life transition when the adolescent female,
regardless of maturity level, comes into her fertile body.
Women often suppress their fertility until they want to start
a family.At the time of menopause, anothermajor life transition,
fertility decreases and finally ceases. Through all of life’s
biological and psychosexual stages and experiences, the biological
self is inextricable from the psychosexual self. While
recognizing that fertility is traditionally defined in positive
biological terms, the purpose of this article is to explore its
meaning further, in order to understand the complexity of fertility
and how it is a defining characteristic of female identity