Coping with male infertility. Gender differences

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Reproductive Medicine
• Sociology

Background:

• Infertility presents a significant psychological stressor for couples experiencing an unfulfilled desire for a child.
• Coping mechanisms employed by infertile couples are influenced by a multitude of variables, including diagnosis and gender.
• Understanding these coping strategies is crucial for providing effective support to individuals and couples facing infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the coping strategies utilized by infertile couples.
• To compare coping mechanisms between genders within infertile couples.
• To examine differences in coping based on the cause of infertility.

Main Methods:

• One hundred and ten infertile couples were studied.
• The Freiburg questionnaire of Coping with Illness was administered.
• Participants were categorized into four groups based on infertility diagnosis: female, male, partner, or idiopathic infertility.

Main Results:

• Women in infertile couples reported higher levels of depressive coping and self-distraction compared to their male partners.
• Infertile women showed lower engagement with religiousness and search for meaning compared to a standardized group with chronic somatic disease.
• Involuntarily childless men utilized coping strategies less frequently than a reference sample.

Conclusions:

• Gender significantly influences the experience and coping strategies associated with infertility.
• Societal gender role expectations appear to impact how individuals cope with infertility.
• Tailored psychological support considering gender differences is essential for couples experiencing infertility.