Relationship Between Marriage Satisfaction and Sexual Functions in Couples Undergoing Infertility Treatment

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the relationship between marriage satisfaction and sexual functions in couples undergoing infertility treatment.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 110 heterosexual couples who attended an outpatient infertility clinic in Turkey, between June 2018 and June 2019.

Results

In the study, 77.3% of the women and 43.6% of the men receiving infertility treatment experienced sexual dysfunction. Increased marital satisfaction is linked with better sexual function for infertile couples. Age, economic status, duration of marriage, type of marriage, duration of treatment, marriage satisfaction were determined to be significant predictive factors of the sexual functions of the infertile couples.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers may apply psychosocial care, education and counseling services toward increasing the marriage satisfaction and sexual functions of infertile couples.

Keywords:

• Infertility
• infertile couples
• marital relationship
• marriage satisfaction
• sexual function

Ethical approval

This research was accepted by the Bozok University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision date and no. 2017.12.21–189).

Acknowledgment

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Author contributions

1. Study conception/design: Alp Yilmaz, Avci, and Tahta

2. Data collection/analysis: Tahta, and Avci

3. Drafting of manuscript: Alp Yilmaz, Avci, and Tahta

4. Critical revisions for important intellectual content: Avci, and Alp Yilmaz

5. Supervision: Alp Yilmaz, and Avci

6. Statistical expertise: Avci, and Alp Yilmaz