Stress-Response in Male Partners of Women Submitted to in vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer

Abstract

Background: In a previous work, we have reported the relationship between women and the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The goal of the present work is to evaluate the association between vulnerability to stress and treatment outcome in male partners of couples submitted to IVF-ET. Methods: The day of semen collection at the Assisted Reproduction Unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena, 45 subjects were submitted to Stroop Color Word Conflict, a task measuring the ability to cope with a cognitive stressor, involving the attentional and sympathoadrenal system. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as heart rate (HR), were measured at baseline, during the test and 10 min after the end of testing. The evidence of pregnancy (βhCG >250 mIU/ml 12 days after ET) is the main outcome measure; the couples were classed in either a ‘success’ or a ‘failure’ group. Results: Thirteen couples became pregnant. Pregnancy progressed until term in 6 cases, while 7 cases showed only a preclinical evidence of pregnancy. Age, education, causes and duration of infertility were similar in the success and failure groups. No difference was found in the number and motility of spermatozoa both at baseline and after capacitation (a technique improving sperm motility). Moreover, the success group showed a higher number of both fertilized oocytes and embryos transferred compared with the failure group. The area under the curve of the cardiovascular parameters was calculated. The failure group showed a higher value for HR (50.6 ± 36.7 of percent total change) than the success group (31.8 ± 16.9; p = 0.006). Conclusions: The cardiovascular response to stress is a good correlate of success in infertile males submitted to the IVF-ET program.

Psychological factors in male partners of infertile couples: relationship with semen quality and early miscarriage

“…Increase in male partner's interest and involvement in fertility treatment may lead to positive changes in couple communication (Pasch et al, 2002). In males undergoing IVF, the higher the reaction to stress, the lower the chances of conceiving (Tarabusi et al, 2000), and the poorer the coping, the higher the stress resulting from infertility in the marital domain (Schmidt et al, 2005). On the other hand, stress and anxiety in females have long been considered not to be related to the occurrence of a miscarriage (Milad et al, 1998), yet in a recent study such a relationship was proved (Nepomnaschy et al, 2006).…”

“…, 2002). In males undergoing IVF, the higher the reaction to stress, the lower the chances of conceiving (Tarabusi et al. , 2000), and the poorer the coping, the higher the stress resulting from infertility in the marital domain (Schmidt et al.…”

Appraisal Detection Bias and Well‐Being in Close Relationships: Couples Experiencing Assisted Reproduction Treatment

“…Controllability of the treatment outcome is limited, especially following the embryo transfer. Also, men showed similar physiological stress responses to the treatment as did their spouses (Tarabusi, Matteo, Volpe, & Facchinetti, 2000). Women undergoing IVF reported higher levels of distress compared to women conceiving naturally (Cassidy & Sintrovani, 2008).…”

“…Women undergoing IVF reported higher levels of distress compared to women conceiving naturally (Cassidy & Sintrovani, 2008). Also, men showed similar physiological stress responses to the treatment as did their spouses (Tarabusi, Matteo, Volpe, & Facchinetti, 2000).…”

Psychogenic Infertility—Myths and Facts

“…The unsuccessful women showed high amounts of activated T cells in the peripheral blood under stress conditions (107). For their male partners a higher heart rate under stress test conditions was a predictor for treatment failure (108). But other studies on mood states and the excretion of stress-related hormones failed to detect any major correlations (109)(110)(111).…”