PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF INFERTILITY: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Keywords:
infertility, psychological stress, adjustment, gender differences, couple.Abstract
Infertility is a global issue impacting individual functioning and well-being as well as social indicators. Infertility is conceptualized as a major life crisis involving loss and grief. For the majority of couples, infertility is experienced as a chronic stressor which requires different coping strategies. The purpose of this paper is to offer an overview of what is known about the psychosocial aspects of infertility. Fertility rate and infertility prevalence as well as social and cultural facets of infertility-related phenomenon will be reviewed. Topics will also include: the relationship between infertility and psychological stress, gender differences in coping with infertility as well as the impact that infertility has on couples’ lives.References
Abbey, A., Andrews, F. M., Halman, L. J. (1992). Gender‟s role in responses to infertility. Psychological Women Quaterly, 15 (2), 295-316.
Abbey, A., Andrews, F. M., Halman, L. J. (1991). Infertility and subjective well-being: The mediating roles of self-esteem, internal control and interpersonal conflict. Journal of Marriage and Family, 54 (2), 408-417.
Abbey, A., Halman, L.J., & Andrews, F.M (1992). Psycho-social, treatment, and demographic predictors of the stress associated with infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 57 (1), 122-128.
Abolghasemi, A., Rajabi, S., Sheikhi, M., Kiamarsi, A., & Sadrolmamaleki, V. (2013). Comparison of resilience, positive/negative affect and psychological vulnerability between Iranian infertile and fertile men. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 7 (1), 9-15.
Amir, M., Horesh, N., & Lin-Stein, T. (1999). Infertility and adjustment in women: The effects of attachment style and social support. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 6 (4), 463- 479.
Andrews, F. M., Abbey, A., & Halman, L. J. (1991). Stress from infertility, marriage factors and subjective well-being of wives and husbands. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 32 (3), 238-253.
Ardenti, R., Campari, C., Agazzi, L., & La Sala, G. B. (1999). Anxiety and perceptive functioning of infertile women during in vitro fertilization: Exploratory survey of an Italian sample. Human Reproduction, 14 (12), 3126-3132.
Bayley, T. M., Slade, P., & Lashen, H. (2009). Relationships between attachment, appraisal, coping and adjustment in men and women experiencing infertility concerns. Human Reproduction, 24(11), 2827- 37.
Benyamini, Y., Gozlan, M., & Kokia, E. (2005). Variability in the difficulties experienced by women undergoing infertility treatments. Fertil Steril, 83 (2), 275-283.
Boivin, J. (2003). A review of psychosocial interventions in infertility. Social Science and Medicine, 57 (12), 2325-2341.
Chachamovich, J. L. R., Chachamovich, E., Fleck, M. P.; Cordova, F. P., Knauth, D. R., & Passos, E. P. (2009). Congruence of quality of life among infertile men and women: Findings from a couple-based study. Human Reproduction, 24 (9), 2151-2157.
Connolly, K. J., Edelmann, R. J., Cooke, I. D., & Robson, J. (1992). The impact of infertility on psychological functioning. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 36 (5), 459-468.
Conrad, R., Schilling, G., Langenbuch, M., Haidl, G., & Liedtke, R. (2001). Alexithymia in male infertility. Human Reproduction,16 (3), 587-92.
Covington, S. N., & Hammer Burns, L. H. (2006). Infertility Counseling: A Comprehensive Handbook for Clinicians (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Daar, A., & Merali, Z. (2001). Infertility and social suffering: The case of ART in developing countries. In: E. Vayena, P. Rowe, & D. Griffin (Eds.), Report of a Meeting on Medical, Ethical, and Social Aspects of Assisted Reproduction (pp. 16-21). Geneva: World Health Organization.
De Liz, T. M., & Strauss, B. (2005). Differential efficacy of group and individual/couple psychotherapy with infertile patients. Human Reproduction, 20 (5), 1324-1332.
Dhillon, R., Cumming, C. E., & Cumming, D. C. (2000). Psychological well-being and coping patterns in infertile men. Fertil Steril, 74 (4), 702-706.
Domar, A. D., Zuttermeister, P. C., & Friedman, R. (1993). The psychological impact of infertility: A comparison with other medical conditions. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 14 (suppl.), 45-52.
Donarelli, Z., Lo Coco, G., Gullo, S., Marino, A., Volpes, A., & Allegra, A. (2012). Are attachment dimensions associated with infertility-related stress in couples undergoing their first IVF treatment? A study on the individual and cross-partner effect. Human Reproduction, 27 (11), 3215-3225.
Drosdzol, A., & Skrzypulec, V. (2008). Quality of life and sexual functioning of Polish infertile couples. The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 13 (3), 271-281.
Dumitru, R., Turliuc, M. N. (2015). Predictori ai stresului în cuplurile infertile. Revista de Psihologie, 61 (4), 268-282.
Durning, P. E., & Williams, R. S. (2004). Factors influencing expectations and fertility-related adjustment among women receiving infertility treatment. Fertility and Sterility, 82 (suppl. 2), S101. Articol disponibil pe http://www.fertstert.org.
Dyer, S. J., Abrahams, N., Mokoena, N. E., & Van der Spuy, Z. M. (2004). „You are a man because you have children‟: Experiences, reproductive health knowledge and treatment seeking behavior among men suffering from couple infertility in South Africa. Human Reproduction, 19 (4), 960-970.
Edelmann, R. J. (1990). Emotional aspects of in vitro fertilization procedures: Review. Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology, 8 (3), 161-173.
Edelmann, R. J., Connolly, K. J., Bartlett, H. (1994). Coping strategies and psychological adjustment of couples presenting for IVF. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38 (4), 355-364.
Eugster, A., Vingerhoets, A. J., van Heck, G. L., & Merkus, J. M. (2004). The effect of episodic anxiety on an in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment outcome: A pilot study. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics andGynaecology, 25 (1), 57-65.
Facchinetti, F., Matteo, M. L., Artini, G. P., Volpe, A., & Genazzani, A. R. (1997). An increased vulnerability to stress is associated with a poor outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment. Fertil Steril, 67 (2), 309-314.
Farzadi, L., & Ghasemzadeh, A. (2008). Two main independent predictors of depression among infertile women: An Asian experience. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 47 (2), 163-167.
Fekkes, M., Buitendijk, S. E., Verrips, G. H., Braat, D. D., Brewaeys, A. M., Dolfing, J. G., Kortman, M., Leerentveld, R. A., & Macklon, N. S. (2003). Health-related quality of life in relation to gender and age in couples planning IVF treatment. Human Reproduction, 18 (7), 1536- 1543.
Grant, J. C., Hoorens, S., Gallo, F., & Cave J. A. K. (2006). Should ART be Part of a Population Mix? A Preliminary Assessment of the Demographic and Economic Impact of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. The RAND Corporation. Document disponibil pe http://www.rand.org.
Greil, A. L. (1997). Infertility and psychological distress: A critical review of the literature. Social Science & Medicine, 45 (11), 1679-1704.
Greil, A. L., Porter, K. L., & Leitko, T. A. (1989). Sex and intimacy among infertile couples. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 2 (2), 117- 138.
Herrmann, D., Scherg, H., Verres, R., von Hagens, C., Strowitzki, T., & Wischmann, T. (2011). Resilience in infertile couples acts as a protective factor against infertility-specific distress and impaired quality of life. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 28 (11), 1111-1117.
Hjollund, N. H., Jensen, T. K., Bonde, J. P., Henriksen, T. B., Andersson, A. M., Kolstad, H. A., Ernst, E., Giwercman, A., Skakkebaek, N. E., & Olsen, J. (1999). Distress and reduced fertility: A follow-up study of first pregnancy planners. Fertil Steril, 72 (1), 47-53.
Holter, H., Anderheim, L., Bergh, C., & Möller, A. (2006). First IVF treatment: Short-term impact on psychological well-being and the marital relationship. Human Reproduction, 21 (12), 3295-3302.
Hsu, Y. L., & Kuo, B. J. (2002). Evaluations of emotional reactions and coping behaviors as well as correlated factors for infertile couples receiving assisted reproductive technologies. Journal of Nursing Research, 10 (4), 291-301.
Isikoglu, M., Senol, Y., Berkkanoglu, M., Ozgur, K., Donmez, L., & Stones-Abbasi, A. (2006). Public opinion regarding oocyte donation in Turkey: First data from a secular population among the Islamic world. Human Reproduction, 21 (1), 318-323.
Jordan, C., & Revenson, T. A. (1999). Gender differences in coping with infertility: A meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 22 (4), 341- 358
Kamp Dush, C. M., Taylor, M. G., & Kroeger, R. A. (2008). Marital happiness and psychological well-being across the life course. Family Relations, 57 (2). doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00495.
Kim, H. K., & McKerny, P. C. (2002). The relationship between marriage and psychological well-being: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Family Issues, 23 (8), 885-991.
Koropatnick, S., Daniluk, J., & Pattinson, H. A. (1993). Infertility: A nonevent transition. Fertil Steril, 59 (1), 163-171.
Laffont, I., & Edelmann, R. J. (1994). Perceived support and counseling needs in relation to in vitro fertilization. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 15 (4), 183-188.
Lee, T. Y., Chao, S. C., & Sun, H. (2001). The effect of an infertility diagnosis on treatment related stresses. Archives of Andrology, 46 (1), 67-71.
Lee, T.-Y., & Chu, T.-Y. (2001). The Chinese experience of male infertility. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 23 (7), 714-725.
Mahajan, N. N., Turnbull, D. A., Davies, M. J., Jindal, U. N., Briggs, N. E., & Taplin, J. E. (2009). Adjustment to infertility: The role of intrapersonal and interpersonal resources/vulnerabilities. Human Reproduction, 24 (4), 906-912.
Martins, M. V., Peterson, B. D., Almeida, V. M., & Costa, M. E. (2011). Direct and indirect effects of perceived social support on women' s infertility-related stress. Human Reproduction, 26 (8), 2113-2121.
Martins, M. V., Peterson, B. D., Almeida, V. M., Mesquita-Guimarães, J., Costa, M. E. (2014). Dyadic dynamics of perceived social support in couples facing infertility. Human Reproduction, 29 (1), 83-89.
Matsubayashi, H., Hosaka, T., Izumi, S.-I., Suzuki, T., Kondo, A., & Makino, T. (2004). Increased depression and anxiety in infertile Japanese women resulting from lack of husband‟s support and feelings of stress. General Hospital Psychiatry, 26 (5), 398-404.
Matsubayashi, H., Hosaka, T., Izumi, S., Suzuki, T., & Makino, T. (2001). Emotional distress of infertile women in Japan. Human Reproduction, 16 (5), 966-969.
McDonald, P. (2006). Low fertility and the state: The efficacy of policy. Population and Development Review, 32 (3), 485-510.
Meller, W., Hammer Burns, L., Crow, S., & Grambsch, P. (2002). Major depression in unexplained infertility. Journal of Psychosomatic and Obstetrics Gynaecology, 23 (1), 27-30.
Mikulincer, M., Horesh, N., Levy-Shiff, R., Manovich, R., & Shalev, J. (1998). The contribution of adult attachment style to the adjustment to infertility. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 71 (3), 265-280.
Miles, L., Keitel, M., Jackson, M., Harris, A., & Licciardi, F. (2009). Predictors of distress in women being treated for infertility. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 27 (3), 238-257.
Monga, M., Alexandrescu, B., Katz, S. E., Stein, M., & Ganiats, T. (2004). Impact of infertility on quality of life, marital adjustment and sexual function. Urology, 63 (1), 126-130.
Nachtigall, R. D., Becker, G., & Wozny, M. (1992). The effect of gender specific diagnosis on men‟s and women‟s response to infertility. Fertil Steril, 57 (1), 113-121.
Nelson, A. R. (2010). Infertility-Related Stress and Perceived Social Support as Predictors of Infertility Self-Efficacy among Women in Treatment for Infertility. A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Disponibil pe https://www.idea.library.drexel.edu.
Newton, C. R., Sherrard, W., & Glavac, I. (1999). The Fertility Problem Inventory: Measuring perceived infertility-related stress. Fertil Steril, 72 (1), 54-72.
Peterson, B. D., Newton, C. R., Rosen, K. H., & Skaggs, G. E. (2006). Gender differences in how men and women who are referred for IVF cope with infertility stress. Human Reproduction, 21 (9), 2443- 2449.
Popescu, R. (2009). Introducere în sociologia familiei. Familia românească în societatea contemporană. Iaşi: Editura Polirom.
Ramezanzadeh, F., Aghssa, M. M., Abedinia, N., Zayeri, F., Khanafshar, N., Shariat, M., Jafarabadi, M. (2004). A survey of relationship between anxiety, depression and duration of infertility. BMC Women’s Health, 4: 9. Articol disponibil online pe http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Rashidi, B., Hooseini, S., Beigi, P., Ghazizadeh, M., & Farahani, M. N. (2011). Infertility stress: The role of coping strategies, personality trait, and social support. Journal of Family and Reproductive Health, 5 (4), 103-110.
Sanders, K. A., & Bruce, N. W. (1999). Psychosocial stress and treatment outcome following assisted reproductive technology. Human Reproduction, 14 (6), 1656-1662.
Schmidt, L., Sobotka, T., Bentzen, J.G., & Nyboe Andersen, A. (2012). Demographic and medical consequences of the postponement of parenthood. Human Reproduction Update,18 (1), 29-43.
Seibel, M. M., & Taymor, M. L. (1982). Emotional aspects of infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 37 (2), 137-145.
Sexton, M. B., Byrd, M. R., & Von Kluge, S. (2010). Measuring resilience in women experiencing infertility using the CD-RISC: Examining infertility-related stress, general distress, and coping styles. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 44 (4), 236-241.
Shapiro, B. S., Richter, K. S., Harris, D. C., & Daneshmand, S. T. (2001). Dramatic declines in implantation and pregnancy rates in patients who undergo repeated cycles of in vitro fertilization with blastocyst transfer after one or more failed attempts. Fertility and Sterility, 76 (3), 538-542.
Smeenk, J. M. J., Verhaak, C.M., Eugster, A., van Minnen, A., Zielhuis, G. A., & Braat, D. D. M. (2001). The effect of anxiety and depression on the outcome of in vitro fertilization. Human Reproduction, 16 (7), 1420-1423.
Stanton, A. L., & Dunkel-Schetter, C. (1991). Psychological adjustment to infertility: An overview of conceptual approaches. In A. L. Stanton & C. A. Dunkel-Schetter (Eds.), Infertility: Perspectives from Stress and Coping Research (pp. 3-16). New York: Plenum.
Strickler, R. C. (1995). Factors influencing fertility. In: W. R. Keye Jr., R. J. Chang, R. W. Rebar & R. Soules (Eds.), Infertility: Evaluation and Treatment (pp. 8-9). Philadelphia: Saunders.
Tao, P., Coates, R., & Maycock, B. (2012). Investigating marital relationship in infertility: A systematic review of quantitative studies. Journal of Reproduction & Infertility, 13 (2), 71-80.
Terry, D. J., & Hynes, G. J. (1998). Adjustment to a low-control situation: Reexamining the role of coping responses. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74 (4), 1078-1092.
Tuschen-Caffler, B., Florin, I., Krause, W., & Pook, M. (1999). Cognitivebehavioral therapy for idiopathic infertile couples. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 68 (1), 15-21.
Valsangkar, S., Bodhare, T., Bele, S., & Sai, S. (2011). An evaluation of the effect of infertility on marital, sexual satisfaction indices and healthrelated quality of life in women. Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, 4 (2), 80-85
Van den Broeck, U., D‟Hooghe, T., Enzlin, P., & Demyttenaere, K. (2010). Predictors of psychological distress in patients starting IVF treatment: Infertility-specific versus general psychological characteristics. Human Reproduction, 25 (6), 1471-1480.
Verhaak, C. M., Smeenk, J. M. J., van Minnen, A., Kremer, J. A. M., & Kraimaat, F. W. (2005). A longitudinal, prospective study on emotional adjustment before, during and after consecutive fertility treatment cycles. Human Reproduction, 20 (8), 2253-2260.
Whiteford, L. M, & Gonzales, L. (1995). Stigma: The hidden burden of infertility. Social Science & Medicine, 40 (1), 27-36.
Wischmann, T., Stammer, H., Scherg, H., Gerhard, I., & Verres, R. (2001). Psychosocial characteristics of infertile couples: A study by the Heidelberg Fertility Consultation Service. Human Reproduction, 16 (8), 1753-1761.
Eurostat 2010 (Total Fertility Rate). Document disponibil pe http://www.ec.europa.eu.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant this journal right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work, with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g. post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g. in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as an earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).