Sexological and traumatic aspects in reproductive difficulties: a psychometric study on couples seeking help for infertility

PURPOSE

To investigate the impact of infertility in gender differences on psycho-traumatological, sexological, relational and emotional aspects and gender differences in couples requiring assisted reproductive treatment.

METHODS

151 couples were recruited with a mean age of 36.7 ± 4.8 years for women and 39.8 ± 6.6f or men. 43% of women and 34% of men had already received the diagnosis of infertility. To recruited subjects was administered the following psychometric tests: Sexological and Emotional in Infertility questionnaire (SEIq), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), the Orgasmomether and the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ).

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in traumatic symptoms between men and women (t = 5,859, p < 0.05). Gender differences were found in the sexological dimension of the SEIq (t = 7,858, p < .001) and in the total ASEX score (t = 3,979, p < .001). Specifically, significant correlations emerged between the ASEX domains and the emotional and sexological aspects related to infertility only in women. The reaction to the diagnosis was negatively correlated with the emotional area of ​​the couple (r = -0.683, p < .001) and positively with the couple relationship (r = 0.815, p < .001). Multiple regression revealed that the overall functioning of the couple, rather than the single scales, is the main predictor of sexuality (R2 = 0.77).

CONCLUSION

A clear impact of infertility on the couple's psycho-traumatological, psycho-sexological and relational aspects emerged. It could be useful to promote targeted support interventions on the most compromised areas of couple functioning in assisted reproductive centers.

Psychopathological symptoms and their association with the quality of life and the sexual functioning in women affected by systemic scleroderma: a preliminary investigation

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the presence of psychopathological symptoms and the relations of these dimensions with the quality of life and sexual function in a group of women affected by systemic scleroderma.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Seventy-one women with systemic scleroderma were invited to participate in the study; 65 agreed to participate, while 6 declined. Four questionnaires were administered to the patients: a specific socio-demographic questionnaire, the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Quality-of-Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41).

RESULTS

Of all the participants in this study, 48% of patients showed a clinical score on SCL-90-R Somatization, 45% on depression, and 37% on obsessive-compulsive. As hypothesized, psychopathological symptoms were related to lower quality of life since somatization and depression predicted the total score of health-related quality of life and lower sexual functions, showing a specific effect of depression on sexuality.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlighted the presence of an association between psychopathological symptoms and reduced sexual functioning and the associations between somatization and the health-related quality of life dimensions in scleroderma patients. Furthermore, our results sustain the importance of also considering the mental health of patients with systemic sclerosis, within an integrated biopsychosocial care model.

Hypersexuality as a tip of the iceberg of a primary psychopathology: a joined position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and of the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI)

In the last years, hypersexual behavior has been broadly scientifically studied. The interest in this topic, belonging to psycho-sexology and sexual medicine, has been due to its still unclear aetiology, nature, and its manifestation in relationship with several organic and psychopathological conditions. So, the specialist (the psychologist, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, neurologist) may encounter some difficulties in diagnosing and managing this symptom. The first main objective of this position statement, which has been developed in collaboration between the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI) is to give to the reader evidence about the necessity to consider hypersexuality as a symptom related to another underlying condition. Following this consideration, the second main objective is to give specific statements, for the biopsychosocial assessment and the diagnosis of hypersexual behavior, developed on the basis of the most recent literature evidence. To develop a psycho-pharmacological treatment tailored on patients' needs, our suggestion is to assess the presence of specific comorbid psychopathological and organic conditions, and the impact of pharmacological treatments on the presence of an excess of sexual behavior. Finally, a suggestion of a standardized psychometric evaluation of hypersexuality will be given.

Assessment of sexual and emotional distress in infertile couple: validation of a new specific psychometric tool

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of infertility strongly impacts on psychological and sexological couple health. In this regard, some feelings and psychological states were demonstrated in association with reproductive problems. Depression and anxiety are the most common psychopathologies associated with infertility, although also sexuality is strongly involved in infertility conditions.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to develop a tool to probe and assess the emotional aspects, sexuality, and social relationships of the couple seeking medical care for infertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A self-reported questionnaire that we will refer to as SEIq (Sexuality and Emotions in Infertility questionnaire) was constructed and developed and, consequently, administered to 162 heterosexual couples (324 subjects) seeking help for reproductive problems. Hence, we performed a specific statistical analysis to assess and validate this new psychometric tool.

RESULTS

About 60% of men and women (both partners in 43% of couples) declare that infertility has changed their life (Q10). Moreover, the incidence of sexual disorder declared by the subjects is quite rare in men (10%) but more frequent in women (29%) (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION

The results of this pilot test show that the diagnosis of infertility impacts on the couple relationship affecting the emotional area, interpersonal relationships, and sexual functions of the couples. Moreover, the SEIq appears a valuable tool to coherently probe and relate sexological, psychological, relational, and emotive aspects in partners and couples facing the infertility diagnosis. The explorative factor analysis of SEIq data allows to understand the women, men, and couples' behavior in our sample, individuating a reduced set of factors, prone to an easier evaluation. On the whole, the psychometric evaluation through SEIq might be suitable for the couples during Assisted Reproductive Technologies treatments.