Impact of assisted reproduction treatment on sexual function of patients diagnosed with infertility

Assessment of sexual function before medically assisted procreation: A mixed-methods study among a sample of infertile women and men cared for in a fertility center

“…Studies show that infertility affects 10-18 % of couples in Europe, and can be caused by a variety of factors including, being male (30 %), female (23 %), male and female (20 %), or idiopathic (27 %), that is, without any known origin [12]. Research also indicates that the diagnosis of infertility can negatively impacts couples' psychological wellbeing and sexual relationship [13] and lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety, guilt, and depression for couples [14][15][16]. Additionally, for some couples, infertility can become a major stressor that can lead to feelings of guilt or blame directed at themselves or their partner [17].…”

“…Studies suggest that while sexual difficulties can contribute to infertility, they are more commonly the consequence of it [19]. Several systematic literature reviews have shown that infertility significantly increases SDs [15,[20][21][22] and decreases sexual satisfaction [20]. This impact is often greater for women, who report more SDs than men [20,22].…”

“…It is important to remember that most infertile couples seek medically assisted reproduction (MAR) to fulfill their desire for a child. The systematic review by Sater and colleagues [15] highlighted that, in infertile individuals, younger age, female infertility, and couples who needed infertility treatment are associated with increased risk of developing SD.…”

“…However, these systematic reviews and meta-analyses [15,[20][21][22]] highlight important limitations of previous studies on SD in infertile patients. To begin with, SD is measured using self-reported questionnaires.…”