Impact of Gender Infertility Diagnosis on Marital Relationship in Infertile Couples: A Couple Based Study

Abstract

Infertility has a deleterious impact on marital relationships. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a gender-specific infertility diagnosis on the response of infertile couples. A cross sectional analysis of 123 infertile couples (123 wives and 123 husbands) who were visited at three reproductive health centers of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Couples independently completed three questionnaires before their office appointment. Questionnaires include Demographic characteristics, marital satisfaction questionnaire and sexual satisfaction questionnaire through interviews. Higher scores in questionnaires inspecting marital and sexual satisfaction indicates lower satisfaction. The outcomes, including differences in marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction in wives and husbands based on infertility diagnosis. In infertile couple, wives expressed less marital and sexual satisfaction than their husbands. Wives with female factor have less marital satisfaction and with male factor have less sexual satisfaction than wives with other factors. Husbands with female factor have less marital satisfaction than husbands with other factors. Husbands with female factor have less marital satisfaction and with male factor husbands show significantly less sexual satisfaction than husbands with other factors (p < 0.05). Infertility diagnosis has a significant impact on infertile couples in marital and sexual satisfaction.