A. Hjelmstedt et al., Gender differences in psychological reactions to infertility among couplesseeking IVF- and ICSI-treatment, ACT OBST SC, 78(1), 1999, pp. 42-48
Background Gender differences and similarities in psychological reactions r
elated to infertility,perception of social support, the effect of infertili
ty on the marital relationship and coping-style were investigated among Swe
dish couples seeking in vitro fertilization - or intracytoplasmic sperm inj
ection - treatment.
Methods. Ninety-one couples entering treatment completed the Infertility Re
action Scale, a self-report questionnaire with structured and open-ended qu
estions and the Miller Behavioral Style Scale.
Results. The women reacted more strongly to their infertility than the men
as measured by the Infertility Reaction Scale (p<0.05). Factor analysis of
the Infertility Reaction Scale produced three factors for men and women res
pectively. The first factor that emerged for the men was 'The male role and
social pressure' and the second factor was 'The major focus of life'. For
the women the two first factors were reversed compared to those of the men.
The third factor 'Effect on sexual life' was similar for men and women. Si
gnificantly more men than women had not confided in anyone about their infe
rtility problem (p<0.001). The information-seeking coping style was signifi
cantly correlated with infertility distress only among men (p<0.05).
Conclusion. The women reacted more strongly to their infertility than the m
en and they felt an intense desire to have a child. They received more soci
al support than their partners, who experienced the fulfilment of the male
role as well as the social role to become a parent as the most central aspe
cts of infertility. The information-seeking coping style was significantly
correlated with infertility distress only among men.