Social Consequences of Infertility on Families in Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective:Social reactions to infertility are one of the concerns infertile people. This study aimed to investigate the social consequences of infertility among urban and rural population of Shahroud in northeast of Iran.Method:This study is a comparative study that was conducted in 2013. In this study, 1,528 women (511 infertile and 1017 fertile ones) were randomly selected. The 36-item questionnaire included 18 items about women’s attitude towards infertility and 18 questions about the consequences of infertility was used. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance and t test.Findings:The prevalence of infertility in rural areas was estimated to be 2.23 percent. 42.2% of the participants were living the city (n= 645) and 57.8 % were living in the village (n=883). 49.2% of the participants had education below high school diploma (n=751), 31.7% had high school diploma (n=484) and 19.2% had university degrees (n=293). 51.9% of the people referred to the infertility problem among distant relatives, 24.9% referred to infertility among the close relatives and 9% reported the infertility among their family members. The mean score of attitude of the fertile was 56.6±7.0 and that of the infertile was 56.8± 6.6 and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). There was a significant association between fertility status and encouraging divorce, encouraging remarriage and encouraging adoption (P=0.001).Conclusion:Infertility causes a negative attitude toward infertile people. But the interference of others leads to further encouragement of divorce and remarriage among the infertile people.

Uterine dimensions in gravida 0 phase according to age, body mass index, and height in Chinese infertile women

“…The incidence of infertility increases daily, [ 13 – 22 ] with adverse impacts on women's daily lives and marriage, which has gradually attracted more attention. [ 23 – 29 ] The reason for infertility is very complicated. We have to step by step to understand the functions and characteristics of the various organs that affect reproduction, and to find out the causes and mechanisms of infertility.…”

Fertility testing for men before marriage: Is it acceptable?

“…A study conducted in China by Che and Cleland () revealed that infertile married partners were 2.2 times more likely to divorce than were the fertile partners (Che & Cleland, ; Luk & Loke, ). Another study in Iran showed that there is a negative attitude towards infertile subjects, and the interference of other persons increases the encouragement of divorce (Amiri et al, ). A recently published study in Turkey by Ergin et al () confirmed that there are a very significant familial attitudes and social stigma related to infertility, including divorce (Ergin et al, ).…”

“…Actually, such thinking, according to the participants, was to avoid the social stigma that, in particular, the female may experience after marriage. This marriage cancellation or disagreement, most of the time, comes from the female's side, either by the female's decision herself, or by her guardian, or sometimes by interferences from other persons in her family (Amiri et al, ).…”

Comparison of Depression Severity and Sexual Satisfaction Between Fertile and Infertile Women in Iran: A Population Based Case-Control Study

“…Although infertility is considered as a catostrophic phenomen for couples worldwide, studies show that the adverse psychological effects of infertility are found to be greater among women than that of men (2).This is because motherhood has traditionally been accepted as an essential role for women in Iranian culture. Many times, an infertile woman believes she cannot imagine a childless life while his spouse may express a different feeling (10,11). In general, infertile women are more likely than men to seek for treatment for which the female gender or the couple go through emotional and nancial hardship (12).…”