Psychological aspects in couples with infertility

SummaryThe aim of this study is to characterize subjects with a diagnosis of infertility in terms of individual psychological functioning and marital adjustment. Eighty normal control couples without known fertility problems (NC), 80 couples with an infertility diagnosis pursuing medical treatment (IG) and 40 couples with an infertility diagnosis who are adoption candidates (AG) completed the instruments: Beck Depression Inventory, Coping Styles Questionnaire, Others As Shamer, Experience of Shame Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale, Intimacy Dimensions, Female Sexual Function Index, International Index of Erectile Function, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Results show that the IG scored higher than NC and AG in measures of depression, external and internal shame. IG presented higher scores in avoidant and emotional coping styles whereas AG showed higher detached and rational coping. In what concerns acceptance and self-compassion, IG showed lower scores. IG scored higher on intimacy than normal controls. Dyadic adjustment was higher in the AG. These couples scored higher than NC but no differences were found between them and IG. No differences between the groups were found in terms of sexual functioning. Subjects with an infertility diagnosis showed significant higher scores in psychopathological measures and significant lower scores in more positive/protective psychological functioning measures. Infertility subjects presented higher scores than normal controls in intimacy, which suggest that infertility may function as a couples’ cohesion factor (e.g. during medical treatment). Contrary to what is mentioned in literature, there were no significant differences in sexual functioning between groups.