Infertility-related stress and sexual satisfaction: a dyadic approach

Abstract

Purpose of the study

to examine whether women’s and men’s infertility-related stress, and specifically its sexual concerns aspect, is related to their and their partner’s sexual satisfaction.

Materials and methods

In a cross-sectional study, 94 couples experiencing infertility filled out the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale and Fertility Problem Inventory, which measures infertility-related stress with dimensions of social, sexual and relationship concerns, rejection of childfree lifestyle, and need for parenthood. Dyadic analyses were performed following the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM).

Results

The dyadic analysis revealed that women’s and men’s greater infertility-related stress contributed to their lower levels of sexual satisfaction (actor effect). Moreover, women’s and men’s greater sexual concerns (as the aspect of infertility-related stress) contributed to their own and their partner’s lower levels of sexual satisfaction (actor and partner effect).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that both individual and relational processes are important in the association between the specific dimension of infertility-related stress and sexual satisfaction. These findings could guide the psychosocial support for couples experiencing infertility.

Keywords:

• Infertility
• sexual satisfaction
• sexuality
• stress
• dyadic analysis
• APIM

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).