Female infertility and conjugality: Integrative literature review

Abstract

Infertility has repercussions as a problem in different areas. Regarding the sphere of the couple, this is a situation that can affect both spouses and operates in marital satisfaction. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to know how the conjugality is affected by the female infertility from the national and international scientific production. It is an integrative review of the scientific literature indexed in the databases/libraries PUBMED, PsycINFO and LILACS published between 2008 and 2018, in the Portuguese, Spanish and English languages, which recovered 34 publications, which were submitted to critical analysis. It is a predominantly international production, with a quantitative approach. The guiding question that led to the present revision was answered, so that it was found that infertility transforms the conjugal relationship, most often negatively, which has no direct influence of the female factor as cause. In contrast, the search for treatment is shown as an aspect of cohesion between the couple, which strengthens itself in pursuit of a common goal. Therefore, it is necessary to develop actions that aim at improving the marital and sexual quality of life of couples who are undergoing diagnosis and treatment for infertility.