The Etiology of Infertility Affects Fertility Quality of Life of Males Undergoing Fertility Workup and Treatment

Bibliographic Data

ID21748770
AuthorsKatarzyna Warchol-Biedermann (0000-0002-9577-5380, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume15
Issue2
Pages1557988320982167-1557988320982167
Publication date2021-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Men s Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1557-9883 • E-ISSN: 1557-9891
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1557988320982167
PMID33834914
OpenAlexW3144484921
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited49

This panel study explored the effects of male, female, mixed, or idiopathic factor of infertility on the fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) in involuntarily childless males undergoing fertility workup for the first time. A convenience sample of 255 married males (age range = 22–51 years, mean = 30.24 years), 254 (99.6%) of whom suffered from primary infertility were assessed (1) at the baseline, before their initial fertility evaluation (T1); (2) before their second andrological appointment, 2–3 months after diagnostic disclosure (T2); and (3) before subsequent treatment-related/ follow-up appointments (T3, T4). The timing of psychological assessment was strictly related to andrological appointments and routine medical procedures. Respondents completed Emotional, Mind–Body, Relational, and Social subscales of the Polish version of FertiQoL and a baseline demographic survey. The research demonstrated that the FertiQoL scores across the Emotional, Mind–Body, and Relational subscales markedly decreased after the diagnostic disclosure, particularly in the subgroups with male and concurrent male and female factor. Social subscale scores in all subgroups remained stable after the diagnostic disclosure (at T2) but significantly decreased in the follow-up (at T3 and T4). Significant differences in FertiQoL scores associated with respondents’ infertility factor could be demonstrated at each time point. The study identifies the FertiQoL in unintentionally childless males is significantly affected by their factor of infertility and evolves across the pathway of treatment-related/follow-up appointments

Etiology · Fertility · Gynecology · Infertility · Population · Pregnancy · Primary infertility · Psychiatry · Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Medicine · Ovarian function and disorders · Reproductive Health and Technologies