Unexpected application of counselling skills by a fertility research nurse

Men attending the Andrology Laboratory for the first time were asked to complete questionnaires regarding their employment, lifestyle, diet and infancy for the Chemicals and Pregnancy Study UK (CHAPS-UK) research study. CHAPS-UK is a multi-centre study investigating reasons for male infertility. During one interview, a patient expressed concerns about his sexual relationship with his wife. Initially, he described his concerns about infertility but as the nurse used her counselling skills, the patient was able to voice his psychosexual difficulties. This was the first time in 5 years of marriage the patient talked about his situation to another person. The research nurse was able to combine good communication and counselling skills to facilitate the patient's need to face his problem, which enabled him to make a constructive decision about his need for further help. This case highlights the difficult situation in which fertility nurses can find themselves and reinforces the need for nurses involved in the care of infertile couples to have training in counselling skills and the ability to make appropriate referral to an infertility counsellor when required.