Differential coping in fertile and sub-fertile males attending an assisted conception unit: A pilot study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of diagnosis, independent of the effect of gender, on the coping mechanisms employed by the males attending an IVF Unit. Forty-nine males attending the assisted conception unit with their partners were recruited. All participants had attended the clinic on at least one prior occasion. The participants were categorized as fertile or sub-fertile on the basis of their semen profiles. Participants' coping, perceived stress and Meaning of Parenthood scores were collected via questionnaire. All participants were a similar age, and had been trying to conceive for a similar length of time. All participants reported similar levels of perceived stress, and similar motivation to have a child. The fertile and sub-fertile males showed significant differences in their coping, with sub-fertiles using more coping efforts than the fertiles. In addition to these findings, a small subgroup of sub-fertile males were identified, who denied ownership of their sub-fertility. These men demonstrated a general augmentation of their coping efforts, over and above that of the other sub-fertile males.