Comparison of marital satisfaction in fertile and infertile couples and its relationship with sexual problems

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant professor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

5 B.Sc of Nursing, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Infertility as a crisis in couples' life, not only creates psychological problems, but also, it can act as a powerful impact on the relationships between couples. In many cases, infertility affects a great impact on couples' sexual relationships. According to different results of studies about the effect of infertility on marital and sexual relationships, this study was performed with aim to compare marital satisfaction in fertile and infertile couples and evaluation of its relationship with sexual problems.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 110 infertile and 110 fertile couples referred to Montaserieh Infertility Center and five Health-Medical centers in Mashhad in 2013. Data collection tools included personal characteristic questionnaire, Nathan H. Azrin marital satisfaction and Glombok-Rust questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16) and Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient tests. PResults: The mean score of marital satisfaction in fertile and infertile women was 64.4±12.9, 65.2±12.5, respectively that was in moderate level in both groups. According to the results of Mann-Whitney test, there was no significant difference in the marital satisfaction score in fertile and infertile couples (P=0.45). There was a significant inverse correlation between marital satisfaction with sexual problems in both groups (r=-0.35, p<0.0001).
Conclusion: Regarding the relationship between marital satisfaction and sexual problems, it seems that use of the approaches to identify and treat sexual problems is required in health and infertility centers to increase marital satisfaction.

Keywords

References

  1. Baharvand H, Farzaneh P. Guide to infertility treatment for infertile couples. 1th ed. Tehran:Teymorzadeh; 2008 (Persian).
  2. Khodakarami N, Hashemi S, Sedigh S, Hamdieh M, Taheripanah R. The experience of living with infertility: a phenomenological study. Journal of Reproduction and Infertility 2009; 10(4): 287-97 (Persian).
  3. BakoyiF,OmidvarSh, Nasiri F. Determine the frequency sexual dysfunction in married women and some related factors in Babol. Journal of Babol University of Medical Sciences 2006; 9(4):59-64 (Persian).
  4. ZabihiRigcheshme M, Mirzaian B, Hasanzade R, Shahidi M. Comparing Sexual Attitudes of Fertile and Infertile Couples. J Mazand Univ Med Sci 2012; 22(1): 272-81 (Persian).
  5. AhmadiAsrBadr Y, Madaen K, Haj Ebrahimi S, EhsanNejad A. Prevalence of infertility in Tabriz in 2004.Urol J 2006; 3(2): 87-91
  6. Mohammadi M, Khalajabadi F. Emotional -psychological problems of infertility and strategies to overcome with them. J Reprod Infertil 2000; 32(2):33-9 (Persian).
  7. Pazandeh F, Sharghi SN, KormiNouri R, AlaviMajd H. A comparative study of psycho-social aspect between infertile and fertile women referring to health cares center and infertility center in Tehran. Pejouhandeh. 2005;9(6):355-60 (Persian).
  8. Berekjs, Novak E. Berek and Novak Gynecology. 14th ed. philadelphia: Lippincott  Wilims&Wikins; 2007
  9. kalkhoran l, Bahrami H, Farrokhi A, Zeraati H, Tarahomi M. Comparison of anxiety, depression and marital satisfaction in both fertile and infertile women in Tehran.J Reprod Infertil 2011; 12(2): 157-63 (Persian).
  10. Schmit L, Michel GR, Monga M. Evaluation of a communication and stress management training program for infertile  couple. Patient  Educ couns 2005;59(3):252-62.
  11. Amanelahifard A, Nikbakht R, Hoseini MA, Ahmadi S, Hoseini Z. The comparison of marital satisfaction and quality of life between fertile and infertile women. Biannual Journal of Applied Counseling 2012; 2(1):75-88 (Persian).
  12. Rahmani A, Merghati A, Sadeghi N, Allahgholi L. Sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction. Journal of Nursing Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2011; 24(70):82-90 (Persian).
  13. Brezsnyak M, Wisman MA. Sexual desire and relationship functioning: the effects of marital satisfaction and power. J Sex Marital ther 2004; 30(3):199-217.
  14. Sargolzaee MR, Moharreri F, Arshadi HR, Javadi. K, Karimi S, Fayyazibordbar MR. Psychosexualand depression disorders in infertile femalereferring to Mashhad infertility treatment center. J Reprod Infertil 2001;2(4):46-51 (Persian.(
  15. Fooladi E, Danesh M, Kashfi F, KhaniS,Mohammadpour RA.Study the attitudes in infertile couples towards marital adjustment and infertility in referred to infertility center in Tehran. J Mazand Univ Medl Sci 2006; 16(55):131-7 (Persian).
  16. Burns LH, Covington SN. Infertility counseling: a comprehensive handbook for clinicians.1st ed. London: Informa Health Care; 2000.P.648.
  17. Jahanfar SH, Mollaiynezhad M, Jaferpour M,Jamshidi R. Infertility related stress andmarital life in Iranian infertile women whoreferred to Isfahan Infertility Treatment Clinic. J Reprod Infertil 2000; 2(5):26-34.
  18. Repokari L, Punamaki RL. Infertility treatment and marital relationships: a 1-year prospective study amoung successfully treated ART couples and their controls. Hum Reprod 2007; 22(5):1481-91.
  19. Lee TY, Sun GH, Chao SC.  The effect of an infertility diagnosis on the distress, marital and sexualsatisfaction between husbands and wives in Taiwan. J Hum Reprod 2001;16(8):1762–7.
  20. Benazon N, Write J, Sabourin S. Stress, Sexual satisfaction and marital adjustment in fertile couple. J sex Marital ther 1992;18(4):237-84.
  21. Monga M, Alexandrescu B, Katz SE, SteinM, Ganiats T. Impact of infertility on qualityof life, marital adjustment and sexualfunction. Urology 2004; 63(1):126-30.
  22. Raval H, Slade P, Buck P, Lieberman B. The impact of infertility on emotions and the marital and sexual relationship. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 1987;5(4): 221-34.
  23. Pasch LA, Dunkel-Schetter C, Christensen A. Differencesbetween husbands and wivs approach to infertility affect marital communicationand adjusmment.fertil steril 2002; 77(6):1241-7.
  24. Sandlow JI. Shattering the myths about the infertility. Postgraduate Med 2000; 107(2):235-9.
  25. Heydari P. Effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on anxiety in women with primary infertility by IUF treatments [Master thesis].Mashhad: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences;1998.
  26. Rust J, Golombok S. The GRISS: A psychometric instrument for the assessment of sexual dysfunction. Arch Sexl Behav 1986; 15( 2):157-65.
  27. Besharat MA, Hosseinzade R. Comparison of mental health and sexual problems fertile and infertile women. Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology (thoughts and behavior) 2005; 12(2): 146-151. (Persian).
  28. Jonaidy E, NooraniSadodinSh, Mokhber N, Shakeri MT. Comparing the marital satisfaction in infertile and fertile women referred to the public clinics in Mashhad in 2006-07. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2009;12(1):7-16 (Persian).
  29. Shakeri J, Hoseini M, Golshani S, Sadeghi KH, Feizollahi V. Evaluation of General health, coping strategies and marital satisfaction in infertile women in treatment with IVF. J Reprod Infertil 2006; 7(3):269-75 (Persian).
  30. Gulec G, Hassa H, Gune E, Yenilmez C. The Effects of Infertility on Sexual Functions and Dyadic Adjustment in Couples that Present for Infertility Treatment. Turk Psikiyatri Derg 2011; 22(3):1-10.
  31. Mazaheri MA, Kayghobadi F, FaghihiImani Z, Ghashang N, Pato M. Problem solving strategies and marital adjustment in infertile and fertile couples. Dd nJ Reprod Infertil 2001;8(2):22-32
  32. Drosdzol A, Skrzypulec V. Evaluation of marital and sexual interactions of Polish infertile couples. J Sex Med 2009; 6(12):3335-46.
  33. Markestad CL, Montgomery LM, Bartsch RA. Infertility and length of medical treatment effects on psychological, marital, and sexual functioning. Int J Rehabil Health 1998; 4(4):233- 43.
  34. Guo B, Huang J. Marital and sexual satisfaction in Chinese families: exploring the moderating effects.J Sex Marital Ther 2005;31(1):21-9.
  35. PakgoharM,Vizheh M. BabayiGh, Ramezanzadeh F, Abedinia N. The effect of counseling on sexual satisfaction of infertile women. Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2008; 14(1):21-30 (Persian).
  36. Mirghaforvand M, Alizadeh S, Asghari M, Tavananezhad N, Karkhaneh M. Individual - Social predictor of marital satisfaction in women of reproductive age in Tabriz. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2013; 16(72):1-12 (Persian).

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics