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[An overview of psychogenic sterility]
R Le Lirzin1, D Robin, V Guedon
1Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, CHRU, Angers.
The authors remind of the difficulty in defining psychogenic sterilities and evaluating their exact frequency. Then, they attempt to offer a classification based on clinical examples. Secondary sterilities of psychogenic origin are only seen in women who have lost a child in the pre, per or post-partum period. This is even a characteristic example of non organic sterility. Primary sterilities may be psychological in origin, especially by absence of maturation of the child planning project (case of sterilities cured after adoption). They are seen more infrequently: in adult anorexia nervosa, psychological sexual differentiation disorders, masculine women. These difficulties are not easy to approach as much as psychological and organic factors may be entangled. In addition, one question is raised: who should take care of it? The psychiatrist or the gynecologist? Overall, the latter is preferable under the condition that he/she is properly trained. Anyway, it is ultimately the woman's choice.
The authors remind of the difficulty in defining psychogenic sterilities and evaluating their exact frequency. Then, they attempt to offer a classification based on clinical examples. Secondary sterilities of psychogenic origin are only seen in women who have lost a child in the pre, per or post-partum period. This is even a characteristic example of non organic sterility. Primary sterilities may be psychological in origin, especially by absence of maturation of the child planning project (case of sterilities cured after adoption). They are seen more infrequently: in adult anorexia nervosa, psychological sexual differentiation disorders, masculine women. These difficulties are not easy to approach as much as psychological and organic factors may be entangled. In addition, one question is raised: who should take care of it? The psychiatrist or the gynecologist? Overall, the latter is preferable under the condition that he/she is properly trained. Anyway, it is ultimately the woman's choice.