Sex therapy with couples experiencing infertility: an intersystem approach

Abstract

Infertility is experienced by 15-25% of couples throughout the world. The negative effects of infertility on individuals, couples, and families is extensive, influencing mental health, perceptions of self, marital satisfaction, and family relationships. Within couples experiencing infertility, the sexual relationship can also be adversely affected, resulting in an increase in sexual dysfunction and a decrease in sexual satisfaction. Many therapists are unaware of infertility-specific assessment and intervention procedures when working with couple clients experiencing infertility. We provide details for assessment of couples experiencing infertility and suggest the use of an intersystem approach during intervention, focusing on individual biological factors, individual psychological factors, dyadic relationship factors, intergenerational factors, and societal and cultural factors. A case study is presented detailing the use of an intersystem approach in the treatment of one couple experiencing infertility.

Keywords:

• Infertility
• intersystem approach
• sexuality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lexi Oehler

Lexi Oehler is a Master’s student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. Her research interests include treating postpartum depression in couples.

Liz Freeman

Liz Freeman is a Master’s student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. Her research interests include trauma, and the effect of romantic media on the family.

Anthony A. Hughes

Anthony Hughes is a visiting faculty at Brigham Young University in the Marriage and Family Therapy department in the School of Family Life. He researches primarily on the topics of sexuality, sex therapy, sexual education, clinical theory, and clinical application. He recently published with two other authors on the treatment of comorbid sexual dysfunction using the Intersystemic Sex Therapy approach in Contemporary Family Therapy.