Factors Associated With Marital Satisfaction in Infertile Couple: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Abstract

Background:Many factors impact on marital satisfaction. Related factors include demographic factors, assisted reproductive techniques, psychological health, quality of life, psychological, socioeconomic and family support, and sexual function.Methods:This study is a literature review of research studies conducted on factors associated with marital satisfaction in infertile couples. The current literature review search was undertaken using multiple databases selected from articles pertinent to the study. The selection of subjects was undertaken from1990 through 2015. The methodological quality was analyzed based on a checklist adopted from a systematic review. Quality assessment of full text studies was finally carried out by two reviewers.Results:The initial search yielded a list of 445 papers, and then reviewers studied titles and abstracts. Thereafter, 69 papers were incorporated, and researchers reviewed summaries of all of the searched articles. Finally, the researchers utilized the data gained from 64 full articles so as to compile this review paper. Reviewing the studies conducted on marital satisfaction, they classified related findings into 6 categories: demographic factors, using fertility assisting methods, psychological health, life quality, economic, social, and family support, and sexual function.Conclusion:The results of this review article depicted that various factors play role in creating marriage life satisfaction in an infertile couple, so that paying attention to them can play an important role in continuing their treatment. Thus, to identify such factors is considered essential in their treatment protocol highly based on culture. Of the drawbacks of this research is that it has tried at best to employ the studies belonging to diverse countries with different cultures. Also, the number of the papers was considerably limited.

Marital satisfaction and influencing factors in infertile couples

“…Average marriage duration is 4,72 (SD= 3,81) (1-21) years and more than half of the participants (%73,8) are married for 1 to 5 years. The average marriage age of men within the scope of the study is 25,73 (SD= 3,81) (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37) whereas it is 23,21 (SD= 4,89) (16-33) on average for women. Average monthly income of the couples participated is 1478,12 (approximately 500 $) (SD= 810,19) (300-4000) TL; and 67.4% of the couples think the income they earn affords their expenses whereas 32.6% of them do not consider that the income is sufficient for the expenses.…”

“…However, in some studies the dissatisfaction was attributed to men. It was stated that if the infertility factor is man, emotional responses get more negative since the infertile men suffer from more stress in their marital relationship 33,35 . While no difference between the sexes was found in the study by Tüzer et.al., in this study the marital satisfaction of men has been found to be significantly lower in comparison to women.…”

Marital functioning and treatment outcome in couples undergoing assisted reproduction

“…For example, Samadaee‐Gelehkolaee et al. () indicated that men's role in infertility has a more negative impact on the couple's satisfaction than women's because men have less tendency to express their problems, which leads them to lower tolerance of the psychological burden. Moreover, these authors also noted a greater tendency in men to consider infertility almost the same as a reduction of their masculinity, which can lead to fear of stigma.…”

A Path Analysis of Factors Influencing the First Childbearing Decision-Making in Women in Shahrood in 2014

“…Some couples consider having children early in their marriage a threat to the chance of being alone with their spouse and enjoying their freedom, pursuing fun activities, traveling and spending time together, and thus delay their childbearing decision-making. Moreover, the uncertainty about fully knowing one's spouse (especially in the case of traditional marriages) and feelings of doubt about the stability of the marital relationship caused by disputes and consuming discussions over the course of getting to know one another lead to childbearing hesitations (Kariman et al, 2014b;Kariman et al, 2014a;Testa et al, 2012;Kariman et al, 2015;Klobas, 2011;Rijken, 2009;Samadaee-Gelehkolaee et al, 2014).…”