Sexual, Marital, and Social Impact of a Man’s Perceived Infertility Diagnosis

Abstract

Introduction Male factor infertility is a relatively common problem. This diagnosis may increase sexual, marital, and relationship strain in male partners of infertile couples. Aim To measure the personal, social, sexual, and marital impacts of a male factor infertility diagnosis among men in couples evaluated for infertility. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 357 men in infertile couples from eight academic and community-based fertility clinics. Participants completed written surveys and face-to-face and telephone interviews at study enrollment. This interview queried each participant’s perception of their infertility etiology to determine the primary study exposure (i.e., male factor only, male and female factors, female factor only, unknown). Main Outcome Measures Personal Impact, Social Impact, Marital Impact, and Sexual Impact scales. Results Among the 357 men, no male factor was reported in 47%, isolated male factor was present in 12%, combined male and female factors were present in 16%, and unexplained infertility was present in 25% of couples. Male factor infertility was independently associated with worse Sexual (mean 39 vs. 30, standard deviation [SD] 2.7, P = 0.004) and Personal (mean 37 vs. 29, SD 3.8, P = 0.04) Impact scores relative to men in couples without male factor infertility. These differences remained statistically significant after controlling for male age, partner age, race, religion, educational level, employment status, prior pregnancy, duration of infertility, and prior paternity. Conclusions Male partners in couples who perceive isolated male factor infertility have a lower sexual and personal quality of life compared with male partners of couples without perceived male factor infertility. Social strain is highest among couples without a clear etiology for infertility. These findings highlight the clinically significant negative sexual, personal, and social strains of a perceived infertility diagnosis for men.

Psychological and social aspects of infertility in men: an overview of the evidence and implications for psychologically informed clinical care and future research

“…Neither age nor cause of infertility was related to sexual satisfaction, but it was negatively related (P,0.01) to duration of time since diagnosis. In a study by Smith et al 42 for men with male factor infertility or in couples with unexplained infertility, there were lower levels of sexual quality of life, assessed by enjoyment, sense of attractiveness to the intimate partner and intrusiveness of thoughts about fertility problems and wanting a child during intercourse. In the study by Tüzer et al 46 in Turkey, fewer men (20%) than women (44%) reported that sexual interest had decreased since infertility diagnoses.…”

Male Infertility and Its Impact on Women’s Sexual Behaviors: Need Attention to Psychological Problem as A Psychological Rehabilitation

“…Other authors suggested that infertility may be stressful but can provide common grounds for closer mutual support to thoughts and feelings of couples and, therefore, has a positive effect on couples' relationship and sexual behaviors [27,43]. A lack of effect of male infertility on marital relationships has been suggested in other studies [23].…”

“…Studies have also showed that sexual assertiveness and self-esteem are two important factors that can affect sexual satisfaction levels [22]. Murphy found that low self-esteem and overall low sexual assertiveness are the personality traits of women who have experienced sexual coercion in their marital relationships [23].…”

Marital Maladjustment in Infertile Couples Who Referred to Ghadir Mother and Child Hospital, Shiraz

“…Studies have reported a dramatic decrease in couples' conjugal quality of life and relationships. These impairments, similar to other psychosocial complications of infertility, may vary according to the economic, occupational, educational, social, and religious characteristics of couples (11,12). Benazon et al (13) reported a lower prevalence of marital adjustment disorders among infertile couples who were successfully treated by assisted reproductive technologies (ART) than infertile couples without ART in the first year of infertility.…”