Stress, depression, and anxiety associated with infertility can take a huge toll on couples trying to conceive, and these issues often lead to relationship problems and sexual dysfunction. Recently, a group of American scientists studied the sexual impact of infertility on women and discovered that age and cause of infertility are important factors to consider.
Three hundred ninety-six infertile women participated in the study. About two-thirds of the women were in their thirties; almost 20% were in their forties.
To assess sexual impact, the researchers used a seven-item section of the Fertility Problems Inventory, a tool designed to measure stress related to infertility. The sexual impact questions addressed sexual enjoyment, feelings of attractiveness to a partner, and general sexual problems. Another question asked whether thoughts of having children occurred while the women were having intercourse. Higher scores on this assessment indicated greater sexual impact.
According to the study authors, the following factors played a role in the women’s sexual impact scores:
- Age. Women under age 40 tended to have higher scores than those over 40. The authors explained that since infertility is less common in younger women, it’s possible that this group felt more stress, which could affect their sexual function. In contrast, older women may have come to terms with their infertility, making the sexual impact less dramatic.
- Cause of infertility. Almost 59% of the women believed their infertility stemmed from female factors. In turn, these women had higher sexual impact scores, perhaps because they blamed themselves for their situation, the authors suggested. Women who felt their infertility could not be explained by male or female factors (4%) also experienced more sexual impact. This result might be explained by the stress of not knowing why fertility problems were occurring, the authors said.
Duration of infertility was another significant factor. Sexual impact was greater for women who had been coping with infertility for 6 to 48 months as well as those who had passed the five-year mark. The study authors suggested that sexual problems don’t start immediately, may fluctuate as couples address their infertility, then build again, especially if repeated attempts to conceive are not successful.
It’s important for healthcare providers to consider the sexual implications of infertility and its treatment, the authors noted.
“We believe these data support the practice of providers screening infertile women for sexual dysfunction, with special focus on those who might be at higher risk, and offering appropriate treatment or referrals to help address these concerns for a woman’s overall well-being and for support in her relationship,” they wrote.
The study was first published online last month as an article in press for Sexual Medicine.
Resources
MedlinePlus
“Infertility”
(Updated: January 16, 2015)
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001191.htm
Sexual Medicine
Winkelman, William D., MD, et al.
“The Sexual Impact of Infertility Among Women Seeking Fertility Care”
(Full text. Article in press published online: May 7, 2016)
http://www.smoa.jsexmed.org/article/S2050-1161(16)30022-8/fulltext