Spouses Of Men Research Articles

Psychological morbidities among spouses of men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction in a primary care setting.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) negatively affects patients' emotions. However, its effect on spouses' psychological well-being remains largely unknown. This study aimed to examine psychological morbidities and their associated factors among spouses of men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and ED. This cross-sectional study included 115 women recruited through their husbands who were patients at a selected government health clinic in Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire containing the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 and items on health-related information, marital history, sexual history and perception of husband's ED was used to assess possible depression, anxiety and stress. The prevalence of psychological morbidities was 28.7% (depression=17.4%, anxiety=25.2% and stress=10.4%). Most respondents were middle-aged [median (interquartile range)=44.0 (11.0) years], were employed (55.7%) and had a low income (81.7%). About 47.0% of the spouses had a medical problem. The mean marriage duration was 18.7 (standard deviation=7.9) years. Almost all (90.4%) had sexual intercourse (SI) within the previous month. The majority had moderate-to-high interest in SI (72.2%) with a frequency of one to two times per week (69.6%). The majority (75.7%) did not perceive their husband as having ED. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that medical illness was significantly associated with anxiety (adjusted odds ratio=2.85, 95% confidence interval=1.11-7.29, P=0.029). Psychological morbidities were present among the spouses of men with T2DM and ED. Psychological well-being was significantly affected by their medical illness. Despite their husband's ED, the women declared to have regular sexual relationships and did not perceive their husband as having erectile problems.

Living with Parkinson's disease: A qualitative study of spousal perspectives.

Research has demonstrated that Parkinson's disease can have adverse psychological effects on caregivers. Very few studies have focused on the experiences of spouses who are not primary caregivers or who do not identify as primary caregivers. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of spouses who are not primary caregivers or do not identify as primary caregivers. Twelve Israeli women, spouses of men with Parkinson's disease, were interviewed using a semi-structured in-depth approach. Thematic analysis revealed five themes: before diagnosis, at diagnosis, after diagnosis, interpersonal ways of coping, and intrapersonal ways of coping. A dynamic of oscillation between confronting and avoiding losses was indicated. Non-death losses were mostly unacknowledged among spouses' social circles. Results were interpreted in the context of grieving processes after diagnosis. Findings suggest a need for psychological interventions aimed at creating safe spaces for spouses to engage in a grieving process after diagnosis.

Intimate partner violence and its association with common mental disorders among spouses of men with alcohol dependence syndrome attending tertiary care hospital

Intimate partner violence and its association with common mental disorders among spouses of men with alcohol dependence syndrome attending tertiary care hospital

Marital Satisfaction Among Spouses of Male Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

BACKGROUND One third of Indians consume alcohol and there is an alarming annual increase in alcohol consumption. Majority of spouses of alcohol dependent males are also the primary care-takers of their husbands and are at risk of domestic violence. Marital dissatisfaction could reduce their involvement in getting their spouses treated for alcohol dependence. Our aim was to study the marital satisfaction among the spouses of patients with alcohol dependence. METHODOLOGY This study was conducted on spouses of male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome attending the psychiatry department of a tertiary care medical college hospital in Kanchipuram District in Tamilnadu. 200 consecutive male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome using the ICD 10 criteria were recruited. Severity of alcohol dependence was assessed using Short Alcohol Dependence Data (SADD). Marital satisfaction among the spouses was assessed using ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale. Analysis of the data was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. RESULTS The mean age of alcohol dependent men and their spouses were 43.05±9.39 and 37.58±8.86 years respectively. Most of the spouses (83.5%) had done their primary education only and 50% were house-wives (unemployed). Majority of men earned between Rs.5000 to 10,000 and most of them were unskilled workers belonging to the lower socio-economic group in the rural areas. The mean SADD and EMS scores were 25.05 ± 8.891 and 31.76 ± 14.45 respectively. 74% of men in our study population were highly dependent on alcohol. Amongst the spouses of men with severe dependence 68.9% reported moderate and 28.3% reported low marital satisfaction. DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION Majority of alcohol dependent men suffered from severe dependence. An inverse relationship between marital satisfaction scores and severity of alcohol dependence was observed. Alcohol dependence and its severity was noted to have an adverse impact on marital satisfaction among spouses of the dependent patients.

Marital Satisfaction Among Spouses of Male Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

BACKGROUND One third of Indians consume alcohol and there is an alarming annual increase in alcohol consumption. Majority of spouses of alcohol dependent males are also the primary care-takers of their husbands and are at risk of domestic violence. Marital dissatisfaction could reduce their involvement in getting their spouses treated for alcohol dependence. Our aim was to study the marital satisfaction among the spouses of patients with alcohol dependence. METHODOLOGY This study was conducted on spouses of male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome attending the psychiatry department of a tertiary care medical college hospital in Kanchipuram District in Tamilnadu. 200 consecutive male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome using the ICD 10 criteria were recruited. Severity of alcohol dependence was assessed using Short Alcohol Dependence Data (SADD). Marital satisfaction among the spouses was assessed using ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale. Analysis of the data was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. RESULTS The mean age of alcohol dependent men and their spouses were 43.05±9.39 and 37.58±8.86 years respectively. Most of the spouses (83.5%) had done their primary education only and 50% were house-wives (unemployed). Majority of men earned between Rs.5000 to 10,000 and most of them were unskilled workers belonging to the lower socio-economic group in the rural areas. The mean SADD and EMS scores were 25.05 ± 8.891 and 31.76 ± 14.45 respectively. 74% of men in our study population were highly dependent on alcohol. Amongst the spouses of men with severe dependence 68.9% reported moderate and 28.3% reported low marital satisfaction. DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION Majority of alcohol dependent men suffered from severe dependence. An inverse relationship between marital satisfaction scores and severity of alcohol dependence was observed. Alcohol dependence and its severity was noted to have an adverse impact on marital satisfaction among spouses of the dependent patients.

The relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation, free radicals and antioxidant capacity with idiopathic repeated pregnancy loss

More than two consecutive miscarriages in less than 20 weeks of gestation is defined as recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. Various causes such as uterine anatomical anomalies, genetic factors, and infectious and endocrine disorders have been reported for RPL. However, approximately 50% of the causes are unknown, which can be due to male factors. Several studies have been done on semen parameters to determine the unknown causes and risk factors for miscarriages, however, only studying common semen parameters have not been sufficient. In this study, the relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation, the amount of free radicals, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in semen have been considered as a risk factor for spontaneous miscarriage. Semen samples were collected from 42 men whose partners had a history of spontaneous miscarriage and 42 fertile men as the control group. Volume, pH, viscosity, concentration, and motility of semen, as well as sperm morphology were measured. Sperm DNA fragmentation was analyzed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and TUNEL methods, the amount of sperm free radicals was measured by the luminescence method and the total amount of semen antioxidant was measured using the TAC kit. The results have shown that sperm motility in the experimental group was significantly less than the control group (P = 0.001). The percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation and the amount of free radicals in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001). The total amount of antioxidant was lower in the experimental group compared to the control. Spouses of men with lower sperm motility and higher DNA fragmentation had a higher chance of spontaneous miscarriage when compared to the control group. The results of this study support the hypothesis that sperm DNA fragmentation is a major contributor to spontaneous miscarriage.The relationship between SDF, ROS and TAC with RPL.

Long-term impacts of early-life exposure to malaria: Evidence from Taiwan's Eradication Campaign in the 1950s.

This paper utilizes the eradication campaign in Taiwan in the 1950s to estimate the long-term impacts of early-life (in utero and postnatal) exposure to malaria. Matching adults in the 1992-2012 Taiwan Social Change Survey to the malaria intensity in their individual place and year of birth, difference-in-difference estimation shows strong evidence that the eradication increased men's own educational attainment as well as their family income in adulthood. We also use the 1980 census data to show there was a sharp education increase after the eradication. Furthermore, the eradication increased the educational attainment of married men's spouses. Finally, quantile regressions show that the effect concentrated on the lower percentile of the income distribution. Overall, our results suggest negative effects of early-life exposure to malaria.

Anxiety and depression in spouses of males diagnosed with alcohol dependence: a comparative study

Aim of the studyIn this study, we aim to compare the proportion of anxiety and depression among spouses of males with alcohol use disorder with spouses of males without alcohol use disorder.Subject or material and methodsWe conducted a comparative study on patients attending the general practice OPD of an urban tertiary care hospital. Two groups were taken – wives of men with alcohol use disorder (diagnosed by DSM-5) and wives of those without alcohol use disorder. A semi-structured questionnaire, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were administered.Results: 58 women (38%) and 89 women (59%) married to men with alcohol use disorder reported depression and anxiety respectively, as opposed to 26 women (17%) and 58 women (38%) married to men without alcohol use disorder. The difference was significant with odds ratio of 3.01 and 2.31 respectively.DiscussionThe rates found were comparable to previous similar studies. However, this study better elucidates the causality of psychiatric morbidity among spouses of men with alcohol dependence as it is a comparative study.ConclusionsWives of men with alcohol use disorder show significantly higher rates of both depression and anxiety when compared with wives of men without alcohol use disorder. This increased psychiatric morbidity not only affects the individual, but the entire family unit, reduces effective participation in treatment and affects the overall quality of life of the family. Thus it is important to be vigilant about it and intervene in a timely manner.

Psychiatric Morbidity among Spouses of Men with Alcohol Dependence

Abstract Objective: To assess the common mental disorders among spouses of men with alcohol dependence and to compare common mental disorders among spouses of alcoholics and nonalcoholics. Study design: This was a cross-sectional controlled study. We evaluated 50 cases (including the indoor and outdoor patients) whose husbands were diagnosed as having alcohol dependence and 50 controls whose husbands had no alcohol dependence but some other illness, admitted to our rural medical college using the global mental health assessment tool-primary care (GMHAT-PC) version including the sociodemographic profile sheet and history of patient's illness. Results: Anxiety (16%) and depression (36%) were higher in wives of alcohol-dependent men. Stress was higher (6%) in cases as compared with controls (4%). When comparing diagnosis and age-wise distribution, depression was higher in cases (28%) as compared with controls (14%) in age group of 31 to 40. There were 23 (46%) out of 50 spouses of men with alcohol dependence syndrome, whose diagnosis by GMHAT-PC came out as no mental illness; still they had some score in the anxiety rating, but this score was not enough for them to be diagnosed under anxiety disorder. Even in controls, anxiety score to a certain extent was present in 26% spouses. The GMHAT-PC self-harm scoring system was used to assess the risk of self-harm. It was found that three (6%) spouses had mild suicidal risk and one (2%) had severe suicidal risk, whereas in controls, it was absent. Conclusion: Alcohol abuse is associated with an increased risk of committing criminal offences. An alcoholic can disrupt the routine family life. The women are primary caregivers in most of these cases. Therefore, understanding mental health status of spouses of alcoholics is of utmost importance. It can help in early detection of psychiatric morbidities and help in early intervention.

Information Seeking and Satisfaction with Information Sources Among Spouses of Men with Newly Diagnosed Local-Stage Prostate Cancer.

Information sources about prostate cancer treatment and outcomes are typically designed for patients. Little is known about the availability and utility of information for partners. The objectives of our study were to evaluate information sources used by partners to understand prostate cancer management options, their perceived usefulness, and the relationship between sources used and satisfaction with treatment experience. A longitudinal survey of female partners of men newly diagnosed with local-stage prostate cancer was conducted in three different geographic regions. Partners and associated patients were surveyed at baseline (after patient diagnosis but prior to receiving therapy) and at 12months following diagnosis. Information sources included provider, literature, friends or family members, Internet websites, books, traditional media, and support groups. Utility of an information source was defined as whether the partner would recommend it to caregivers of other patients with local-stage prostate cancer. Our study cohort included 179 partner-patient pairs. At diagnosis, partners consulted an average of 4.6 information sources. Non-Hispanic white partners were more likely than others to use friends and family as an information source (OR=2.44, 95% CI (1.04, 5.56)). More educated partners were less likely to use support groups (OR=0.31, 95% CI (0.14, 0.71)). At 12-month follow-up, partners were less likely to recommend books (OR=0.23, 95% CI (0.11, 0.49)) compared to baseline. Partners consulted a large number of information sources in researching treatment options for local-stage prostate cancer and the types of sources accessed varied by race/ethnicity and educational attainment. Additional resources to promote selection of high-quality non-provider information sources are warranted to enable partners to better aid patients in their treatment decision-making process.

Loss of coping resources and psychological distress in spouses of alcohol dependents following partner violence

Background and Objectives: A study to assess the psychological distress of married women due to their spousal violence under alcohol dependence. This study is aimed at studying partner violence, various coping styles and psychological distress among spouses of men with alcohol dependence and to explore the association between partner violence and coping behaviour. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 50 wives of alcohol dependent individuals in the age range of 20-50 years, who were divided into two groups based on the duration of drinking of their husbands. They were assessed by GHQ-12, Measure of Wife Abuse, Coping with Drinking Questionnaire and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. Results: Partner alcohol use was associated with increased psychological distress in their spouses and they have used both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Conclusion: Alcohol plays a role in partner violence and spousal mental distress resulting in loss of their coping resources.

The Impact of Men’s Detention on the Psychological Wellbeing of Palestinian Women

Detention has a main impact on the health and psychological wellbeing of those leaving behind, in particular the partners. Little is known however on the impact of detention of men on their spouses when the imprisonment happens in situations of protracted armed conflict. This study therefore aims at investigating the consequences of the detention of men onto the health of their spouse living in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. A random sample of 360 Palestinian women compared the health of spouses of men who had been imprisoned for different periods of time with a group of women whose husbands had not been imprisoned. All participants completed self-report questionnaires on posttraumatic stress disorders symptoms (UCLA PTSD Index) and general health problems (General Health Questionnaire 28). Detention of men puts their spouses clearly at risk to develop several health problems, even more for older women and for those without children. The time the man was imprisoned had a various impact onto their wives’ health. These findings call for important supporting interventions for this highly vulnerable group.

Spouses of male psychiatric patients are more prone to intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a great public health concern. Most studies have evaluated different risk factors of IPV in general population, but few have evaluated the perpetration of IPV by subjects with psychological disease. We evaluated the prevalence of IPV among spouses of men with psychiatric disease. In this descriptive study, we questioned 119 women whose husbands were in-patient or out-patients of psychology clinic. A validated questionnaire was used for evaluation IPV and its different subtypes. All women reported to encounter some kind of IPV in some periods. Women reported emotional abuse in 100%, physical abuse in 99.2% and sexual abuse in 81.5%. None of the patients were eager to tell anyone about being victim of IPV due to religious beliefs, society culture and believing in their marital status and trying to keep their marriage. IPV is higher among families with men having psychological disease. Policy makers and clinicians should predominantly target these families. Also, empowering women may reduce the risk of intimate partner violence.

Prevalence of major depressive disorder among spouses of men who use alcohol in a rural community in Central Sri Lanka.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) among spouses of men who use alcohol in two rural areas in Sri Lanka, and to examine whether the severity of alcohol-related problems (ARPs) in men and presence of alcohol-related domestic violence are associated with MDD among these women.Method: In a cross-sectional study, ARPs among men were assessed using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire filled in by men, and domestic violence and husbands' drinking pattern data obtained from the women. MDD among the women was ascertained using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–IV Disorders for major depression. Using logistic regression we examined whether age, past history of depression, different indices of ARPs and domestic violence were associated with current MDD among the women.Results: Point prevalence of MDD in the sample was 33.3% (95% CI: 25.93, 40.73%). Once adjusted for other factors, morning drinking of the spouse (odds ratio = 4.11, 95% CI: 1.25, 13.47; P = 0.019) and increasing age (odds ratio = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09; P = 0.003) significantly increased the odds of MDD. Being subjected to domestic violence/arguments also had a trend to be associated with MDD among women, but was not significant (odds ratio = 2.29, 95% CI: 0.95, 5.48; P = 0.062).Conclusion: The prevalence of MDD among spouses of men who use alcohol is markedly higher than that has been observed among Sri Lankan women in previous studies. The prevalence of MDD in women seems to increase when their husbands are morning drinkers, and with increasing age.

Gender differences in time spent on parenting and domestic responsibilities by high-achieving young physician-researchers.

Female physician-researchers do not achieve career success at the same rate as men. Differences in nonprofessional responsibilities may partially explain this gap. To investigate the division of domestic labor by gender in a motivated group of early-career physician-researchers. Nationwide postal survey between 2010 and 2011. United States. Physician recipients of National Institutes of Health K08 or K23 awards between 2006 and 2009 with active academic affiliation at the time of the survey. Time spent on parenting and domestic tasks was determined through self-report. Among married or partnered respondents with children, a linear regression model of time spent on domestic activities was constructed considering age, gender, race, specialty, MD or MD/PhD status, age of youngest child, number of children, work hours, K award type, and spousal employment. A 74% response rate was achieved, and 1049 respondents were academic physicians. Women were more likely than men to have spouses or domestic partners who were employed full-time (85.6% [95% CI, 82.7% to 89.2%] vs. 44.9% [CI, 40.8% to 49.8%]). Among married or partnered respondents with children, after adjustment for work hours, spousal employment, and other factors, women spent 8.5 more hours per week on domestic activities. In the subgroup with spouses or domestic partners who were employed full-time, women were more likely to take time off during disruptions of usual child care arrangements than men (42.6% [CI, 36.6% to 49.0%] vs. 12.4% [CI, 5.4% to 19.5%]). Analyses relied on self-reported data. The study design did not enable investigation of the relationship between domestic activities and professional success. In this sample of career-oriented professionals, gender differences in domestic activities existed among those with children. Most men's spouses or domestic partners were not employed full-time, which contrasted sharply with the experiences of women. National Institutes of Health.

Psychiatric morbidity and marital satisfaction among spouses of men with alcohol dependence

Background:Alcohol dependence has adverse health and social consequences; Alcohol related problems primarily occur within the family context and maximum impact is felt on spouses, given the intimate nature of their relationship. Spouses play an important role in treatment programs related to alcohol. There is thus a need to study psychiatric morbidity and marital satisfaction in spouses of alcohol dependent patients in order to understand and address such issues.Aims:The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of psychiatric morbidity, marital satisfaction in spouses of men with alcohol dependence syndrome and explore the association.Materials and Methods:For psychiatric morbidity, 60 spouses of men with alcohol dependence syndrome were evaluated. Marital satisfaction was assessed using the marital satisfaction scale. Severity of alcohol dependence in the husbands and consequences of drinking was assessed using short alcohol dependence data and drinkers inventory of consequences respectively.Results:More than half of the spouses (65%) had a psychiatric disorder. Primarily mood and anxiety disorder were present. Major depressive disorder was present in 43%. Psychiatric morbidity, marital dissatisfaction in spouses and higher adverse consequences alcohol dependence in their husbands, were found to be significantly correlated with each other and their association was robust particularly when problems in the physical, interpersonal and intrapersonal domains were high.Conclusion:Psychological distress and psychiatric morbidity in spouses of alcohol dependent men is high, with marital satisfaction being low. Addressing these issues will be beneficial as spouses are known to play an important role in the treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome.

Impact of Nonorganic Erectile Dysfunction on Spouses: A Study from India

The overall outcome of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) depends a lot on participation in treatment of their partners/spouses. However, psychosexual functioning of partners/spouses has received scant attention. To study the psychosexual functioning of spouses of men with nonorganic ED in terms of their sexual satisfaction, psychological problems, marital adjustment, quality of life, and level of dysfunction. The main outcome measures for the partners of men with ED were symptom questionnaire, marital questionnaire (KDS-15 marital questionnaire), sexuality scale, quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction questionnaire, dyadic adjustment scale, and dysfunction analysis questionnaire. Spouses of men with ED (n=50) and spouses of men without any psychosexual dysfunction (n=50) were compared for sexual and marital function, quality of life, and dyadic adjustment. The psychological impact was assessed by symptom questionnaire. Spouses of men with ED have significantly lower levels of marital and sexual satisfaction and higher levels of psychiatric symptoms than controls. Furthermore, the spouses of men with nonorganic ED also report poor quality of life in most domains of life and had higher level of dysfunction. Our findings support the Western data with regard to the psychosexual functioning of spouses/partners of men with ED and suggest that spouses/partners of men with ED should also be assessed thoroughly.

Long-term quality of life after radical prostatectomy in wives of men in the postoperative adjuvant androgen deprivation trial

We examined quality of life in spouses of men in the Post-Adjuvant Androgen Deprivation trial after radical prostatectomy. Men at high risk of prostate cancer recurrence were randomized to receive androgen deprivation therapy or observation. Forty-three couples completed telephone interviews every 6 months for 2 years assessing women's mood disturbance, mental and physical health, and sexual function and bother as well as men's symptoms and sociodemographic and marital variables. We used linear mixed modeling to explore relationships between wives' quality of life and time, treatment group, and men's symptoms. Women's mental health functioning improved over time (p < 0.05). Furthermore, women with husbands in the observation group had worse mood disturbance (p = 0.01) and poorer mental health (p = 0.02) than women with husbands in treatment. Men's symptoms were associated with worse physical health in wives (p = 0.02). Women also reported worse sexual function at 18 and 24 months compared with baseline (p = 0.02), but ratings of sexual bother were unrelated to time, treatment, and symptoms. These exploratory results are consistent with research demonstrating that spousal cancer-related distress decreases over time. Treatment group differences suggest that an examination of caregiving in the context of uncertainty is warranted. Also, the physical burden of caregiving may intensify when men have more symptoms. To inform interventions, future studies should clarify how treatment and symptoms influence wives' distress by examining expectations and communication.

Role of male factor in early recurrent embryo loss: do antioxidants have any effect?

To evaluate whether increasing antioxidant intake in men with high levels of DNA damage or lipid peroxidation improves gestational results in couples with history of recurrent embryo loss. Descriptive study (case series). Early recurrent embryo loss program at the University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Seventeen men whose spouses had a history of two or more embryo losses before 12 weeks of gestation. Male partners with increased DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) or high thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were instructed to consume a diet rich in antioxidants or commercial multivitamins containing beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc for at least 3 months. Pregnancy outcome was recorded in the spouses of men with increased %DFI or TBARS who received antioxidant supplementation. Of the 17 men, 9 (53%) presented with an increased %DFI or TBARS. They were started on an antioxidant supplementation regimen. Of these nine men, six of their spouses became pregnant. All couples whose male partners accepted antioxidant supplementation achieved a successful pregnancy. Our study demonstrates the benefits of an increased intake of antioxidant-rich food or antioxidant supplements by men who show high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation or lipid peroxidation, which could result in an improvement in gestational outcomes in couples with history of recurrent embryo losses.

A protocol of electroejaculation and systematic assisted reproductive technology achieved high efficiency and efficacy for pregnancy for anejaculatory men with spinal cord injury

Shieh J-Y, Chen S-U, Wang Y-H, Chang H-C, Ho H-N, Yang Y-S. A protocol of electroejaculation and systematic assisted reproductive technology achieved high efficiency and efficacy for pregnancy for anejaculatory men with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:535-40. Objective: To help anejaculatory men with spinal cord injury (SCI) to procreate. Design: Prospective, clinical study. Setting: A team of physiatrists, urologists, and gynecologists at a university hospital in Taiwan. Participants: Ten infertile men with SCI seen at our hospital between 1995 and 2001. Interventions: Electroejaculation induced their seminal emission. Depending on semen parameters, the couples were treated with intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), surgical retrieval of sperm, cryopreservation of sperm, or donor sperm. Main Outcome Measures: Fertilization and pregnancy. Results: Ten couples underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART). One couple achieved pregnancy after the second cycle of electroejaculation and IUI. Seven couples underwent 8 cycles of ICSI, 4 cycles with fresh electroejaculates, 2 with cryopreserved samples, and 2 with cryopreserved samples with addition of pentoxifylline. Seven (88%) clinical pregnancies were achieved, 2 of which ended with spontaneous abortion. One couple accomplished pregnancy by ICSI with cryopreserved sperm from vasal aspiration. The percentages of fertilization and pregnancy of ICSI cycles using sperm from men with SCI were comparable to men without SCI. One couple attained pregnancy by using donor sperm. The cumulative successful pregnancy rate per couple was 80% (8/10). Conclusion: Electroejaculation and systematic ART are highly efficient for achieving pregnancy with the spouses of men with SCI. The neurologic deficit and electroejaculation did not affect the outcome of ICSI. Using cryopreserved sperm for ICSI may reduce risk from electroejaculation or surgery.