Various studies worldwide have indicated that about 96% of infertile women undergo infertility stress in their lives [16].
In other words, infertile men experience more anxiety than infertile women [10].
In comparison, according to Maroufizadeh et al.’s [16] study, anxiety was twice times higher in infertile women than in infertile men.
In Yousefi et al.’s 22(14) study, women who were the cause of infertility themselves had more anxiety than women with infertile spouses.
Therefore, this study was conducted aiming to compare anxiety, depression, and stress between couples with male and female infertility.
Infertility is defined as at least 1 year of failed attempts by married partners at getting pregnant when the couple had been sexually active each month without contraception [1]. In developed countries, the prevalence of infertility is estimated to be 35% in both genders (43% in women and 30.7% in men), and the cause of infertility is unexplained or idiopathic in 5% of infertile couples [2]. The prevalence of primary infertility in Iran is 18.3%, of which 32% were reported to have inexplicable causes, 12.5% with female causes, and 13.6% with male causes [3].
Infertility has significant negative physical, psychological, and social impacts on the lives of infertile couples, particularly women [4]. The presence of other factors such as a T-shaped uterus [5], FIGO type 3 leiomyomas [6, 7] and process of fertility preservation for transgender men [8] may be a cause or concomitant cause of increased anxiety or depression in patients. A history of infertility is potential predictors of early and premature menopause in women [9]. Furthermore, Facing infertility treatment and potentially facing an altered future without children are stressful conditions that could adversely affect the mental health of couples [10]. Chronic stress suppresses immune system function and increases susceptibility to infection and many various diseases [11]. Anxiety and depression are reported to be more prevalent among women with infertility [12]. The overall prevalence of anxiety and depression in infertile couples has been estimated at 25-60%; this rate is significantly higher compared to fertile couples and the general population [13]. In Iran, more than 14% of women and 25% of men suffer from anxiety and stress. Although the symptoms of depression in women are 1.7 times more than that in men [14], research demonstrates that the prevalence of psychological disorders is 48-96% in infertile women, while 11.2% in fertile women [15].
Various studies worldwide have indicated that about 96% of infertile women undergo infertility stress in their lives [16]. The results of a study in Iran showed that 31.7% of infertile women had some levels of depression, and 15% had clinical depression; also, 20% of infertile men had some levels of depression, and 13.3% had clinical depression (15). Moreover, severe and very severe levels of anxiety were estimated at 36.7% and 61.6% in men and at 30% and 53.3% in women, respectively [14]. In other words, infertile men experience more anxiety than infertile women [10].
Anxious symptoms are considered among the most prevalent psychiatric problems in the general population of different societies, whose incidence rate is twice as high in women as in men [17]. Anxiety is a type of feeling of discomfort, fear, and worry, which can be a primary state or part of a response to stressors [18]. Besides the particular and cultural conditions existing among the people regarding the infertile individual, the high costs of artificial insemination methods and the mild odds of success are among other causes of high anxiety and depression of individuals with infertility [19].
Although infertility seems to be associated with couples, considering women’s sensitivity and vulnerability that is primarily due to their psychological and physical or social, cultural, and economic structures of societies, they are usually exposed to more negative effects [20]. Typically, women are considered more responsible for infertility, exposing them to psychological disorders [17]. Research demonstrates that even in infertility stemming from male factors, women usually face more family and social issues and problems, and it is women who tolerate the most burden of infertility [10].
Although numerous studies have been conducted aiming to determine the psychological consequences among infertile couples, most of these studies have dealt with comparing these negative consequences with fertile couples [11]. On the other hand, researchers comparing infertile women and men only in terms of psychological consequences have reported contradictory results; for example, the results of Pahlevani et al.’s [21] study indicated that infertile men experienced less stress than infertile women and enjoyed higher mental health. In comparison, according to Maroufizadeh et al.’s [16] study, anxiety was twice times higher in infertile women than in infertile men. Still, no statistically significant difference was found between these two groups in terms of the level of depression.
In Yousefi et al.’s 22(14) study, women who were the cause of infertility themselves had more anxiety than women with infertile spouses. In Riahi et al.’s [22] study, no significant gender difference was observed in the negative psycho-social consequences of infertility between infertile men and women.
Despite the discrepant results, during the research team’s extensive search, there were limited studies dealing with factors related to the psychological consequences of infertility. Therefore, this study was conducted aiming to compare anxiety, depression, and stress between couples with male and female infertility.
