Relationship between domestic violence and infertility

Infertility is a significant psychological stressor among infertile couples. Aggressive behaviour such as domestic violence may be the consequence of this situation.

To determine the relationship between domestic violence and infertility and its associated factors.

This unmatched case-control study was conducted on 400 women who were referred to Al-Zahra teaching Hospital in Rasht, Islamic Republic of Iran, from May to December 2015. The data were collected by WHO Domestic violence questionnaire, which was validated in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Data were analyzed by using descriptive and analytical statistic (Chi square, t test, and logistic regression).

Out of the 200 infertile women 136 (68%) reported a history of physical violence, 120 (60%) had experienced sexual violence and 140 (70%) had psychological violence. There was a significant relationship between infertility and physical, sexual and psychological violence (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the education level of women [OR= 0.176, 95% CI (0.070-0.446)], unemployment husband [OR=15.83, 95% CI (1.307-191.977)] and infertility [OR= 0.133, 95% CI (0.057-0.31)] were associated with domestic violence (P < 0.05).

In this study there was a relationship between infertility and physical, sexual and psychological violence and infertile women were more likely to encounter domestic violence. Screening for domestic violence is necessary for infertile couples.