Aspects of psychosocial development in infertile versus fertile men

Infertility is one of the most difficult life experiences that a couple might encounter. Infertility as a bio-psycho-social phenomenon, could influence all aspects of life. While paying special attention to the psychological aspects of infertility in couples; many studies have investigated the non-clinical aspects of infertility, however, they rarely have evaluated the psychosocial development of infertile versus fertile men. We aimed to study the effects of infertility on psychosocial development in men. In fact, we designed the study based on "Erikson's theory of psychosocial development". We focused on the relationship between psychosocial development and some self-conceived indices. For this purpose, we divided the participants volunteers into two groups of cases [80 infertile men] and controls [40 fertile men] and asked them to complete a 112 [questions questionnaire based on "self description"]. The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS [version 13] using independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and analysis of covariance. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Data analysis showed significant inter and intra group differences. Infertile and fertile groups showed significant differences in trust, autonomy, generativity and integrity stages [p<0.05]. Infertile intergroup analysis represents us to higher scores in positive than negative stages. Infertility as a phenomenon had its own effects on the psychosocial development of infertile men. However, good coping skills are powerful tools to manage these myriad of feelings surrounding infertile men

[Iranian version of Health-related Quality of Life for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [PCOSQ]: translation, reliability and validity]

Objective[s]: This study aimed to translation and determine the reliability and validity of the Health-related quality of life for women with polycystic ovary syndrome and was done on 190 women with polycystic ovary syndrome referred to selected infertility centers of Tehran during 2010-2011

Methods: For Translation English version of PCOSQ, Forward-Backward method and to determine the reliability of the instrument, internal consistency was used. For assessing the validity of this questionnaire, Item-Scale correlation and Known groups' comparison were identified. The results were analyzed with SPSS-14

Results: The results of this study showed that Cronbach's alpha coefficient for all dimensions except menstrual problems were higher than o.7. Also, all questions showed an adequate correlation with their dimensions [r>0.4] and all domains scores except menstrual problems, regarding to BMI showed significant statistical differences [P<0.05]

Conclusion: However, it seems that Iranian version of this questionnaire is an acceptable questionnaire with adequate reliability and validity in all dimensions except for menstrual problems. For obtain better results, further studies with larger sample size and different settings are recommended

[Health related quality of life in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [PCOS]]

Objective [s]: Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is a disorder of hyperandrogenemia and chronic anovulation which affects 5-10% of all women. The PCOS symptoms such as hirsutism, irregular menses, obesity and infertility are a major source of psychological morbidity and can negatively affect quality of life. In this study, we examined the health-related quality of life among Iranian women who suffering from PCOS

Study design: Quality of life was assessed in five domain separatively [menstrual disorders, hirsutism, infertility problems, emotions, and obesity] in 152 women who referred to Tehran selected infertility centers in Tehran, Iran in 2010-2011

Results: The findings showed that patients scored lower on menstrual disorders, hirsutism, infertility problems, emotions, and obesity

Conclusion: This study showed that menstural disorder is the most important domain that affects Iranian women's HR-QoL

Study of body image in fertile and infertile men

Body Image as a multidimensional entity is related to both physical and psychological aspects of the image one has of his or her own body. Lack/absence of an acceptable body image is one of the reasons of mental distress in infertile individuals. In this study, an equal number [No=120] of fertile and infertile men attending Avicenna Infertility Clinic [AIC] were enrolled. The participants were compared in regard to body image variables based on the "Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire [MBSRQ]" consisting of 10 subscales. Data was analyzed by SPSS, version 11.5, using Chi square and independent t-tests. Fertile men had a more positive body image as compared to infertile individuals. Significant statistical differences were observed when body image subscales were compared in both groups; in other words appearance evaluation, appearance orientation, Novy, health evaluation, health orientation, illness orientation, body satisfaction, overweight preoccupation and self-classified weight showed differences, while no significant difference was observed in regard to fitness orientation. It seems that the ability and efficiency of body image is affected by infertility leading to dissatisfaction of one's body image

Iranian oncologists' attitude towards fertility preservation in a sample group

Recent advances in cancer treatment have resulted in an increased number of cancer survivors. Fertility might be impaired by cancer itself or through gonadal damage as a consequence of radio-chemotherapy. Damages to reproductive organs are seen in minimally up to 30% of cancer patients. The aim of the present study was evaluate the attitude of Iranian oncologists toward fertility preservation. Thirty oncologists filled an author-designed questionnaire which included five multiple choice questions at Mahak hospital, Tehran in 2009. The data were collected and analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software. More than half of the oncologists believed that radio-chemotherapy has destructive effects on reproductive organs. This study showed that as high as 67% of the respondants believed fertility preservation should be offered to all patients at risk, but 40% of them insisted that the patients should bring up the topic themselves. Only 46% of the oncologist knew about fertility preservation techniques. The greatest barriers for accepting fertility preservation by the parents of children undergoing cancer treatment were: lack of information [41%], hopelessness from treatment prognosis [33%], fear of delay in starting the treatment [15%] and the priority of child survival [11%]. The specific challenges of counseling are time pressure between diagnosis and start of treatment, little knowledge about fertility preservation both by treating oncologists and parents; therefore a team consisting of oncologists, infertility specialists and social workers is recommended in these settings

[Is early sex reassignment in ambiguous genitalia reasonable?]

Ambiguous genitalia is a medical emergency in newborns and effort is made to perform sex reassignment and reconstructive surgery as soon as possible. However, conflict between the assigned sex and later gender identity are still present in many cases. This discrepancy between sexual and gender identities leads to several complications that are the focus of the present study. The literature review was performed by searching some knowledge-based databases such as Medline/PubMed [from the National Library of Medicine], Scopus, PsyClic and the Iranian Scientific Information Database [SID] on the internet and all the available articles in relevant journals published up to August 2009. A significant number of intersex individuals suffer from incoherence between the sex reassigned to them by the medical team, and their gender identity revealed to them in teen ages or adulthood. As an adult, a large number of these individuals do not live according to their early reassigned sex and some may seek further sex reassignment congruent to their gender identity. A number of these cases have spoken out against the treatments performed during their childhood. They believe that the current treatment strategies for intersex individuals are paternalistic and incompatible with codes of medical ethics and human rights. The current knowledge about the complexities of sexual identity development, gender identity, gender role and sexual orientation is sparse and incomprehensive. The current approach for the management of infants with ambiguous genitalia seems to need major reevaluation. It seems better to defer any sex reassignment and reconstructive surgery until their gender is revealed and they are legally eligible to decide about these issues by themselves

[Mental health status of patients attending Avicenna infertility clinic]

Infertility bears a painful psychological distress and affected couples' reaction to it is commonly seen in the form of anxiety, depression, somatization or social dysfunction. The goal of this study was to evaluate the mental health status of the infertile couples referred the Avicenna Infertility Clinic by the General Health Questionnaire-28 [GHQ-28]. In this qualitative study, 400 couples were randomly selected among couples referred to Avicenna Infertility Clinic for infertility work-up and treatment. After signing an informed consent form, each individual filled a questionnaire on demographic characteristics and one for mental health status assessment, the GHQ- 28. The mean age of the couples [21 to 63 years] was 34 +/- 6 years. The preliminary diagnosis of infertility related to gender included 21.9% female, 65.5% male, 7.1% both and 5.4% unexplained causes of infertility. By regarding a cutoff point of 24 for the GHQ-24 questionnaire, 4% of the individuals showed an abnormal score. The abnormal scores were in domains of social dysfunction [43.5%], anxiety [10.9%], somatization [9.5%] and depression [3.3%] Significant statistical difference were seen between male and female participants in total GHQ-28 scores, as well as somatization and depression, [p < 0.05], where the female participants showed worse psychological health states [p < 0.05]. About 4% of the infertile patients attending Avicenna Infertility Clinic seem to be at risk of psychological disorders and provision of psychological health care alongside the medical treatment is advisable