The psychological influence of gender infertility diagnoses among men about to start IVF or ICSI treatment using their own sperm

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychological influence of gender infertility diagnoses among men in couples about to start their first IVF or ICSI treatment. Methods: The study was a part of a prospective study of 65 men with male infertility diagnosis and 101 men in couples with female, mixed and unexplained infertility diagnoses. Of the 200 men invited, 166 agreed to participate (83% response rate). The men answered questionnaires concerning psychological and social factors on three occasions, at the information meeting held 2-4 weeks prior to first treatment, 1 h before oocyte retrieval and 2 weeks after the pregnancy test. Results: The main findings of this study gave no indication that male infertility influenced men negatively concerning their experience of infertility, view of life and relationships and psychological well-being. We found that men with a male factor infertility diagnosis reacted in a similar way as compared with men in couples where the diagnosis was female, mixed or unexplained infertility. Conclusions: In general, men are well adjusted with regard to a first IVF/ICSI treatment cycle, independent of gender infertility diagnoses. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.