Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Endocrinology of the Testis and Male Reproduction pp 1–31Cite as

Psychological Aspects of Infertility Among Men

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Endocrinology ((ENDOCR))

Abstract

Investigations of the psychological and social aspects of reproductive life events, have, until quite recently, focused predominantly on women. Research has now considered in more detail the psychological aspects of desire for children, avoiding pregnancy when it is not wanted, achieving pregnancy when it is sought, and experiences of infertility among men. The research evidence has been generated predominantly in high- and upper-middle income countries; there is less evidence about these experiences among men living in low- and lower-middle income nations.

Men aspire to parenthood as much as women do but they have less knowledge about fertility and the factors that affect it than women do. The gap between ideal biological and ideal social age for parenthood appears to be widening, increasing the risk of involuntary childlessness or having fewer children than planned. Male factors either alone or in combination with female factors contribute to 50% of infertility. Up to 12% of men experience fertility difficulties, with the highest rates being in countries of Africa and Central and Eastern Europe.

Male factor infertility remains stigmatized, with pejorative associations with compromised masculinity. Notions that men are unaffected or unperturbed by infertility are false and reflect outdated and unhelpful gender stereotypes. While mental disorders are no more prevalent than in the general community, infertility-specific anxiety is common among men being investigated for fertility difficulties or whose partners are receiving fertility treatment.

In general, men prefer to receive psychologically informed care from the infertility treatment team to specialist psychological care. Referral to a mental health professional is recommended for the subgroups of men who have not disclosed infertility to anyone apart from their spouse; appraise being infertile as hopeless or overwhelming or who are considering the use of donor sperm. Preprocedure counseling is also recommended for men considering vasectomy about its permanence and the limited potential for reversal. It is also recommended that infertility counselors are trained in the skills to manage intense psychological distress and interventions to enhance couple communication.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

References

  • Agarwal A, Mulgund A, Hamada A, Chyatte MR. A unique view on male infertility around the globe. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2015;13:37.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Agostini F, Monti F, De Pascalis L, Paterlini M, Battista de Sala G, Blickstein I. Psychosocial support for infertile couples during assisted reproductive technology treatment. Fertil Steril. 2011;95(2):707–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson KM, Sharpe M, Rattray A, Irvine DS. Distress and concerns in couples referred to a specialist infertility clinic. J Psychosom Res. 2003;54:353–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JE, Farr SL, Jamieson DJ, Warner L, Macaluso M. Infertility services reported by men in the United States: national survey data. Fertil Steril. 2009;91(6):2466–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baiocco R, Laghi F. Sexual orientation and the desires and intentions to become parents. J Fam Stud. 2013;19(1):90–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Band DA, Edelmann RJ, Avery S, Brinsden PR. Correlates of psychological distress in relation to male infertility. Br J Health Psychol. 1998;3:245–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barani Ganth D, Thiyagarajan S, Nigesh K. Role of infertility, emotional intelligence and resilience on marital satisfaction among Indian couples. Int J Appl Psychol. 2013;3(3):31–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaurepaire J, Jones M, Thiering P, Saunders D, Tennant C. Psychosocial adjustment to infertility and its treatment: male and female responses at different stages of IVF/ET treatment. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(3):229–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boivin J, Scanlan L, Walker SM. Why are infertile couples not using psychosocial counselling? Hum Reprod. 1999;14(5):1384–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brucker PS, Mckenry PC. Support from health care providers and the psychological adjustment of individuals experiencing infertility. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2004;33(5):597–603.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell JM, Lane M, Owens JA, Bakos HW. Paternal obesity negatively affects male fertility and assisted reproduction outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015;31(5):593–604.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carpentier MY, Fortenberry JD. Romantic and sexual relationships, body image, and fertility in adolescent and young adult testicular cancer survivors: a review of the literature. J Adolesc Health. 2010;47(2):115–25.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chachamovich JR, Chachamovich E, Ezer H, Fleck MP, Knauth D, Passos EP. Investigating quality of life and health-related quality of life in infertility: a systematic review. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol. 2010;31(2):101–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conrad R, Schilling G, Langenbuch M, Haidl G, Liedtke R. Alexithymia in male infertility. Hum Reprod. 2001;16(3):587–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crawshaw M. Psychosocial oncofertility issues faced by adolescents and young adults over their lifetime: a review of the research. Hum Fertil. 2013;16(1):59–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Culley L, Hudson N, Lohan M. Where are all the men? The marginalization of men in social scientific research on infertility. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013;27(3):225–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dancet EAF, Nelen WLDM, Sermeus W, De Leeuw L, Kremer JAM, D’Hooghe T. The patients’ perspective on fertility care: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update. 2010a. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmq004.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dancet EAF, Spiessens C, Blocquiaux L, Sermeus W, Vanderschuerem S, D’Hooghe TM. Testicular biopsy before ART: the patients’ perspective on the quality of care. Hum Reprod. 2010b;25(12):3072–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daniluk JC, Koert E. The other side of the fertility coin: a comparison of childless men’s and women’s knowledge of fertility and assisted reproductive technology. Fertil Steril. 2013;99(3):839–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhillon R, Cumming CE, Cumming DC. Psychological well-being and coping patterns in infertile men. Fertil Steril. 2000;74(4):702–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhont M, Luchters S, Ombelet W, Vyankandondera J, Gasarabwe A, van de Wijgert J, Temmerman M. Gender differences and factors associated with treatment-seeking behaviour for infertility in Rwanda. Hum Reprod. 2010;25(8):2024–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhont N, van de Wijgert J, Coene G, Gasarabwe A, Temmerman M. Mama and papa nothing: living with infertility among an urban population in Kigali, Rwanda. Hum Reprod. 2011;26(3):623–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drosdzol A, Skrzypulex V. Depression and anxiety among Polish infertile couples – and evaluative prevalence study. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol. 2009;30(1):11–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyer SJ, Abrahams N, Mokoena NE, van der Spuy ZM. You are a man because you have children: experiences, reproductive health knowledge and treatment seeking behaviour among men suffering from couple infertility in South Africa. Hum Reprod. 2004;19(4):960–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dyer S, Mokoena N, Maritz J, van der Spuy Z. Motives for parenthood among couples attending a level 3 infertility clinic in the public health sector in South Africa. Hum Reprod. 2008;23(2):353–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyer S, Lombard C, Van der Spuy Z. Psychological distress among men suffering from couple infertility in South Africa: a quantitative assessment. Hum Reprod. 2009;24(11):2821–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edelmann RJ, Connolly KJ. Gender differences in response to infertility and infertility investigation: real or illusory. Br J Health Psychol. 2000;5:365–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edelmann RJ, Humphry M, Owens DJ. The meaning of parenthood and couples’ reactions to male infertility. Br J Med Psychol. 1994;67:291–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg ML, Smith JF, Millstein SG, Walsh TJ, Breyer BN, Katz PP. Perceived negative consequences of donor gametes from male and female members of infertile couples. Fertil Steril. 2010;94(3):921–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg ML, Kim S, Chen Z, Sundaram R, Schisterman EF, Buck Louis GM. The relationship between male BMI and waist circumference on semen quality: data from the LIFE study. Hum Reprod. 2014;29(2):193–200.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg ML, Chen Z, Ye A, Buck Louis GM. Relationship between physical occupational exposures and health on semen quality: data from the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study. Fertil Steril. 2015;103(5):1271–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher J. Infertility and assisted reproduction. Mental health aspects of women’s reproductive health. A global review of the literature. Geneva: WHO; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher JRW, Hammarberg K, Baker HWG. Long term health, wellbeing, life satisfaction and attitudes to parenthood in men diagnosed as infertile: challenges to gender stereotypes and implications for practice. Fertility and Sterility. 2010;94(2):574–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Folkvord S, Odegaard OA, Sundby J. Male infertility in Zimbabwe. Patient Educ Couns. 2005;59:239–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Furman I, Parra L, Fuentes A, Devoto L. Men’s participation in psyhologic counseling services offered during in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 2010;94(4):1460–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glover L, Gannon K, Sherr L, Abel PD. Psychological distress before and immediately after attendance at a male sub-fertility clinic. J R Soc Med. 1994;87(8):448–9.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gollenberg AL, Liu F, Brazil C, Drobnis E, Gizick D, Overstreet JW, Redmon JB, Asparks A, Wang C, Swan SH. Semen quality in fertile men in relation to psychosocial stress. Fertil Steril. 2010;93(4):1104–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goossens J, Delbaere I, Van Lancker A l, Beeckman D, Verhaeghe S, Van Hecke A. Cancer patients’ and professional caregivers’ needs, preferences and factors associated with receiving and providing fertility-related information: a mixed-methods systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2014;51(2):300–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greil A, Slauson-Blevins K, McQuillan J. The experience of infertility: a review of recent literature. Sociol Health Illn. 2010;32(1):140–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hadley R, Hanley T. Involuntarily childless men and the desire for fatherhood. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2011;29(1):56–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammarberg K, Baker HGW, Fisher J. Men’s experiences of infertility and infertility treatment 5 years after diagnosis of male factor infertility: a retrospective cohort study. Hum Reprod. 2010;25(11):2815–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammarberg K, Setter T, Norman RJ, Holden CA, Michelmore J, Johnson L. Knowledge about factors that influence fertility among Australians of reproductive age: a population-based survey. Fertil Steril. 2013;99(2):502–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan MAM, Killick SR. Effect of male age on fertility: evidence for the decline in male fertility with increasing age. Fertil Steril. 2003;79 Suppl 3:1520–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hinton L, Miller T. Mapping men’s anticipations and experiences in the reproductive realm: (in)fertility journeys. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013;27(3):244–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hjelmstedt A, Andersson L, Skoog-Svanberg A, Bergh T, Boivin J, Collins A. Gender differences in psychological reactions to infertility among couples seeking IVF- and ICSI-treatment. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1999;78:42–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holter H, Anderheim L, Bergh C, Möller A. The psychological influence of gender infertility diagnoses among men about to start IVF or ICSI treatment using their own sperm. Hum Reprod. 2007;22(9):2559–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holton S, Fisher J, Rowe H. To have or not to have? Australian women’s childbearing desires, expectations and outcomes. J Popul Res. 2011;28(4):353–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hotaling JM, Davenport MT, Eisenberg ML, VanDenEeden SK, Walsh TJ. Men who seek infertility care may not represent the general U.S. population: data from the National Survey of Family Growth. Urology. 2012;79(1):123–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hruska KS, Futrth PA, Seifer DB, Sharara FI, Flaws JA. Environmental factors and infertility. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2000;43(4):821–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt N, McHale S. Psychosocial aspects of andrologic disease. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2007;36(2):521–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huppelschoten AG, van Duijnhoven NT, van Bommel PF, Kremer JA, Nelen WL. Do infertile women and their partners have equal experiences with fertility care? Fertil Steril. 2013;99(3):832–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iliyasu Z, Galadanci HS, Abubakar IS, Bashir FM, Salihu HM, Aliyu MH. Perception of infertility and acceptability of assisted reproduction technology in northern Nigeria. Niger J Med. 2013;22(4):341–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Indekeu A, D’Hooghe T, De Sutter P, Demyttenaere K, Vanderschot B, Welkenhuysen M, Rober P, Colpin H. Parenthood motives, well-being and disclosure among men from couples ready to start treatment with intrauterine insemination using their own sperm or donor sperm. Hum Reprod. 2012;27(1):159–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Inhorn M, Buss K. Ethnography, epidemiology and infertility in Egypt. Social Science and Medicine. 1994;39(5):671–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Inhorn MC. Masturbation, semen collection and men’s IVF experiences: anxieties in the Muslim world. Body Soc. 2007;13(3):37–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inhorn MC. Right to assisted reproductive technology: overcoming infertility in low-resource countries. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2009;106(2):172–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inhorn MC, Patrizio P. Infertility around the globe: new thinking on gender, reproductive technologies and global movements in the 21st century. Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(4):411–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan C, Revenson TA. Gender differences in coping with infertility: a meta-analysis. J Behav Med. 1999;22(4):341–58.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler LM, Craig BM, Saigal C, Quinn GP. Starting a family: characteristics associated with men’s reproductive preferences. Am J Mens Health. 2013;7(3):198–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klemetti R, Raitanen J, Sihvo S, Saarni S, Koponen P. Infertility, mental disorders and well-being: a nationwide survey. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2010;89(5):677–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kols A, Nguyen T. Infertility in developing countries. Reproductive Health Outlook. 1997;15(3):1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laffont I, Edelmann RJ. Perceived support and counselling needs in relation to in vitro fertilization. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol. 1994;15:183–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langdridge D, Sheeran P, Connolly K. Understanding the reasons for parenthood. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2005;23(2):121–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau J, Wang Q, Cheng Y, Kim J, Yang X, Yi Tsui H. Infertility-related perceptions and responses and their associations with quality of life among rural Chinese infertile couples. J Sex Marital Ther. 2008;34(3):248–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson G, Fletcher R. Delayed fatherhood. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2014;40(4):283–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee TY, Chu TY. The Chinese experience of male infertility. West J Nurs Res. 2001;23(7):714–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee T-Y, Sun G-H, Chao S-C. The effect of an infertility diagnosis on the distress, marital and sexual satisfaction between husbands and wives in Taiwan. Hum Reprod. 2001;16(8):1762–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Lin H, Li Y, Cao J. Association between socio-psycho-behavioral factors and male semen quality: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Fertil Steril. 2011;95(1):116–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malik S, Coulson N. The male experience of infertility: a thematic analysis of an online infertility support group bulletin board. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2008;26(1):18–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins MV, Basto-Pereira M, Pedro J, Peterson B, Almeida V, Schmidt L, Costa ME. Male psychological adaptation to unsuccessful medically assisted reproduction treatments: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update. 2016;22(4):466–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan RI, Yazdani A, Kovacs G, Howlett D. Management of the infertile couple. Australian Family Physician. 2005;34(3):111–17.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkelsen AT, Madsen SA, Humaidan P. Psychological aspects of male fertility treatment. J Adv Nurs. 2013;69(9):1977–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moyo S, Muhwati I. Socio-cultural perspectives on causes and intervention strategies of male infertility: a case study of Mhondoro-Ngezi, Zimbabwe. Afr J Reprod Health. 2013;17(2):89–101.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Müller MJ, Schilling G, Haidl G. Sexual satisfaction in male infertility. Arch Androl. 1999;42:137–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nachtigall RD, Becker G, Wozny M. The effect of gender-specific diagnosis on men’s and women’s response to infertility. Fertil Steril. 1992;57(1):113–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nieuwenhuis SL, Odukogbe AT, Theobald S, Liu X. The impact of infertility on infertile men and women in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria: a qualitative study. Afr J Reprod Health. 2009;13(3):85–98.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pacey AA. Fertility issues in survivors from adolescent cancers. Cancer Treat Rev. 2007;33(7):646–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peronace LA, Boivin J, Schmidt L. Patterns of suffering and social interactions in infertile men: 12 months after unsuccessful treatment. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol. 2007;28(2):105–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson BD, Newton CR, Rosen KH, Skaggs GE. Gender differences in how men and women who are referred to IVF cope with infertility stress. Hum Reprod. 2006;21(9):2443–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petok WD. Infertility counseling (or the lack thereof) of the forgotten male partner. Fertil Steril. 2015;104(2):260–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pook M, Krause W. The impact of treatment experiences on the course of infertility distress in male patients. Hum Reprod. 2005;20(3):825–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pook M, Krause W, Drescher S. Distress of infertile males after fertility workup: a longitudinal study. J Psychosom Res. 2002;53(6):1147–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puur A, Oláh LS, Tazi-Preve MI, Dorbritz J. Men’s childbearing desires and views of the male role in Europe at the dawn of the 21st century. Demogr Res. 2008;19(56):1883–912.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn GP, Murphy D, Knapp C, Stearsman DK, Bradley-Klug KL, Sawczyn K, Clayman ML. Who decides? Decision making and fertility preservation in teens with cancer: a review of the literature. J Adolesc Health. 2011;49(4):337–46.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ramezanzadeh F, Aghssa MM, Jafarabadi M, Zayeri F. Alterations of sexual desire and satisfaction in male partners of infertile couples. Fertil Steril. 2006;85(1):139–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riskind RG, Patterson CJ. Parenting intentions and desires among childless lesbian, gay, and heterosexual individuals. J Fam Psychol. 2010;24(1):78–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts E, Metcalfe A, Jack M, Tough SC. Factors that influence the childbearing intentions of Canadian men. Hum Reprod. 2011;25(5):1202–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt L, Holstein BE, Boivin J, Sangren H, Tjørnhøj-Thomsen T, Blaabjerg J, Hald F, Nyboe Andersen A, Rasmussen PE. Patients’ attitudes to medical and psychosocial aspects of care in fertility clinics: findings from the Copenhagen Multi-centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI) research programme. Hum Reprod. 2003a;18(3):628–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt L, Holstein BE, Boivin J, Tjørnhøj-Thomsen T, Blaabjerg J, Hald F, Rasmussen PE, Nyboe Andersen A. High ratings of satisfaction with fertility treatment are common: findings from the Copenhagen Multi-centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI) research programme. Hum Reprod. 2003b;18(12):2638–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt L, Holstein B, Christensen U, Boivin J. Does infertility cause marital benefit? An epidemiological study of 2250 women and men in fertility treatment. Patient Educ Couns. 2005;59:244–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt L, Sobotka T, Bentzen JG, Nyboe Andersen A. Demographic and medical consequences of the postponement of parenthood. Hum Reprod Update. 2012;18(1):29–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma V, Le BV, Sheth KR, Zargaroff S, Dupree JM, Cashy J, Brannigan RE. Vasectomy demographics and postvasectomy desire for future children: results from a contemporary national survey. Fertil Steril. 2013;99(7):1880–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sherrod RA. Male infertility: the element of disguise. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2006;44(10):30–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith J f, Walsh TJ, Shindel AW, Turek PJ, Wing H, Pasch L, Katz PP. Sexual, marital and social impact of a man’s perceived infertility diagnosis. J Sex Med. 2009;6:2505–15.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Stöbel-Richter Y, Beutel ME, Finck C, Bräler E. The ‘wish to have a child’, childlessness and infertility in Germany. Hum Reprod. 2005;20(10):2850–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sydsjӧ G, Svanberg AS, Lampic C, Jablonowska B. Relationships in IVF couples 20 years after treatment. Hum Reprod. 2011;26(7):1836–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson R, Lee C. Sooner or later? Young Australian men’s perspectives on timing of parenthood. J Health Psychol. 2011;16(5):807–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Throsby K, Gill R. “It’s different for men” Masculinity and IVF. Men Masculinities. 2004;6(4):330–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tschudin S, Bitzer J. Psychological aspects of fertility preservation in men and women affected by cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Hum Reprod Update. 2009;15(5):587–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tüzer V, Tuncel A, Gӧka S, Dogan Balut S, Yüksel F, Atan A, Gӧka E. Marital adjustment and emotional symptoms in infertile couples: gender differences. Turk J Med Sci. 2010;40(2):229–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Umeora OU, Ejikeme BN, Sunday-Adeoye I, Umeora MC. Sociocultural impediments to male factor infertility evaluation in rural South-east Nigeria. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2008;28(3):323–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Balen F, Trimbos-Kemper TCM. Involuntary childless couples: their desire to have children and their motives. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol. 1995;16:137–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Empel I, Nelen W, Tepe E, van Laarhoven E, Veerhaak C, Kremer JAM. Weaknesses, strengths and needs in fertility care according to patients. Hum Reprod. 2010;25(1):142–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wichman C, Ehlers S, Wichman S, Weaver A, Coddington C. Comparison of multiple psychological distress measures between men and women preparing for in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 2011;95(2):717–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wischmann T, Thorn P. (Male) infertility: what does it mean to men? New evidence from quantitative and qualitative studies. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013;27(3):236–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wischmann T, Scherg H, Strowitski T, Verres R. Psychosocial characteristics of women and men attending infertility counselling. Hum Reprod. 2009;24(2):378–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zorn B, Auger J, Velikonja V, Kolbezen M, Meden-Vrtovec H. Psychological factors in male partners of infertile couples: relationship with semen quality and early miscarriage. Int J Androl. 2007;31:557–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jean Hailes Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Jane Fisher & Karin Hammarberg

Authors
  1. Jane Fisher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karin Hammarberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jane Fisher .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Biomedicine, Metabolism and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Modena, Italy

    Manuela Simoni

  2. Dept. of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

    Ilpo Huhtaniemi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this entry

Cite this entry

Fisher, J., Hammarberg, K. (2017). Psychological Aspects of Infertility Among Men. In: Simoni, M., Huhtaniemi, I. (eds) Endocrinology of the Testis and Male Reproduction. Endocrinology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29456-8_46-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29456-8_46-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-29456-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-29456-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation