[Sexual dissatisfaction and somatic complaints in male infertility]

Several relevant sociodemographic and psychological variables were assessed in addition to clinical and andrological examinations in order to find predictors for sexual satisfaction and somatisation in 68 infertile men of involuntarily childless couples. Subjects reported relatively high average levels of both sexual satisfaction and somatisation, with considerable variance between subjects. Multiple regression analyses revealed that neither age, attitudes towards sexuality, nor andrological findings had an influence on sexual satisfaction. However, an inverse relationship between sexual satisfaction and somatisation was found. Furthermore, a short-lasting partnership and high sexual dissatisfaction prior to the diagnosis of infertility could be unveiled as risk factors for somatisation in infertile men. These results propose state and trait characteristics of sexual satisfaction and suggest a buffering role of longer lasting and sexually satisfying partnerships with respect to the distress of infertility. The promising results need confirmation by repeated investigation. Other possible influences, e.g. styles of coping, should be included in future studies.