Does Infertility Influence Couples’ Relationships? A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Contradictory results were reported about the infertile couple relationship. The aim of this study was to determine infertile women&#۳۹;s perception and experience after infertility diagnosis and during infertility treatment, and also the influence of infertility on their sexual function. Method: This qualitative content analysis study was performed with targeted sampling from October to February ۲۰۱۴ on ۱۵ infertile women and ۸ key informants referred to Yazd Infertility Center, Yazd, Iran. All participants were interviewed depth and semi-structured. Content analysis performed for data analyzing. Gaba and Lincoln criteria were used to obtain trustworthiness. Results: There were two main categories, "sexual response cycle" and "factors related to sexual function". The sexual response cycle consisted of three sub-categories, "desire", "arousal", and "orgasm"; factors related to sexual function divided into two sub-categories of "dyspareunia" and "couple intimacy". Conclusion: Although infertile women could experience sexual response cycle in desire, arousal, and orgasm phase like other women, but a number of them, after infertility diagnosis and more during the treatment of infertility problems are mentioned in these phases. Infertile couples and women consultation about sexual response cycle and sexual health can improve sexual life of infertile women.

Keywords:

Infertility , Sexual activities , Sexual dysfunction , qualitative research