ABSTRACT
Background: Infertile couples only think of having children during their sexual intercourse, and their constant concern about this issue increases their stress level. Psycho-social and social stress leads to decreased life satisfaction, increased marital problems, and reduced sexual confidence. This study aims to determine the effect of enrichment program on marital and sexual satisfaction as well as marital intimacy among infertile couples
Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 50 infertile couples in 2013 in Hamedan. The marital relationship enrichment program was taught to the experimental group during seven 90 minutes sessions. Enrich marital satisfaction, Linda Berg sexual satisfaction, and marital intimacy questionnaires were completed by both groups in 3 pretest steps immediately after the end of training sessions, and 8 weeks later. The results were analyzed in STATA11 software using t test, Chi-square, ANCOVA, RM-ANOVA, and Bonferroni post-hoc test. To check the data normality, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used. P<0.05 was considered significant
Results: Comparison of mean scores related to pretest on the one hand and immediately after the test in 8 week later on the other hand showed marital relationship enrichment program significantly increased marital and sexual satisfaction [P<0.001] Also, mean score of marital intimacy immediately after the test [P=0.04] and 8 weeks after the test [P<0.001] significantly increased in comparison with the pretest under the influence of the program
Conclusion: Enrichment training can increase marital intimacy and also marital and sexual satisfaction in infertile couples [Registration Number: IRCT201604299014N97]
ABSTRACT
Background: Fertility plays an important role in sexual and psychological function in families. Infertility can result in major emotional, social, and mental disorders, including a reduction in satisfaction with marital life and quality of life. The present study aimed to compare the quality of life and marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction between fertile and infertile couples
Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 couples at the Fatemiyeh Educational Research Center affiliated to Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran, from May to August in 2014. The subjects were randomly selected from the patients referred to this center using a table of random numbers. They were then allocated into two groups of infertile group [n=125] and fertile group [n=125]. The study participants completed World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF [WHOQOL-BREF] questionnaire, Linda Berg's Sexual Satisfaction Scale, and Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS version16 for statistical analysis. The Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were also applied to compare the data between the groups
Results: The results revealed no significant difference between the two groups regarding demographic and general health variables. The mean scores of sexual satisfaction were 63.67 +/- 13.13 and 46.37 +/- 7.72 in the fertile and infertile couples, respectively. Furthermore, the mean scores of marital satisfaction were also 44.03 +/- 9.36 and 36.20 +/- 4.03 in the fertile and infertile groups, respectively. Our finding demonstrated that the fertile couples obtained significantly higher mean scores of quality of life as well as lower mean scores of sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction as compared to the infertile ones [P<0.001]
Conclusion: According to the results, the fertile couples obtained significantly higher quality of life and lower sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction as compared to the infertile ones. Therefore, holding consultation programs and conducting more studies are necessary for improving the quality of life and promoting sexual and marital satisfaction in infertile couples