Emotional, marital and sexual functioning in patients embarking upon IVF and AID treatment for infertility

Abstract

Fifty-nine women attending infertility clinics for IVF and AID treatment were interviewed and asked to complete questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression, marital functioning, sexual satisfaction and strategies for coping with infertility. Thirty-four of their partners also completed questionnaires. Both women and men experienced high levels of anxiety, but not depression. Assessment of current marital and sexual functioning did not reveal significant levels of problems. Women and men were divided into high and low distress groups and compared with respect to their use of different coping strategies. Those patients who were anxious and/or depressed were more likely to engage in avoidance-coping strategies than those who did not have emotional problems. No such relationship was found for avoidance coping and either marital or sexual functioning.