Estresse em casais inférteis

Abstract

Objectives

To assess emotional stress in infertile outpatient couples candidates for Assisted Fertilization, and compare the stress factor load between men and women.

Material and methods

Transversal, descriptive study involving 31 infertile couples (n = 62). All participants that accepted taking part in the study were assessed individually with the Fertility Problems Inventory (FPI). Non parametric tests with a significance level p < 0.05 were employed as analysis tools. Mann Whiteney statistical test was used to analyse data with p ≤ 0.05.

Results

Women's ages ranged from 18 to 39 years (mean: 29.67) and men's from 18 to 49 years (mean: 28.45). Couples had been trying to conceive for more than four years. FPI mean scores were–social problems: 43.09 for women and 41.09 for men; conjugal problems: 36.96 for women and 36.77 for men; motherhood/fatherhood need: 29.16 for women and 27.87 for men; rejection to a way of life without children: 47.32 for women and 45.48 for men; global stress: 159.90 for women and 151.77 for men.

Conclusions

There were no significant differences on FPI scores between men and women on this study and global stress scores showed a moderate association between stress and infertility.