Psychological-Factors in the Etiology of Infertility - A Longitudinal-Study

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the discussion of psychological factors in the etiology of infertility. A prospective, longitudinal investigation, with both questionnaires and interviews, was carried out among 71 couples, who had contacted a doctor for the first time concerning their infertility problem. The variables studied were motives for wanting children, psychological and psychosomatic symptoms, sex identity, locus of control and relationship between man and woman. Hypotheses about specific psychological factors in the etiology, like gender identity, locus of control or infertility as a defence mechanism against inner conflicts were not supported in this study. There were however, signs that indicated that psychological stress can be a contributing cause to infertility. This stress increases as a consequence of infertility and a vicious circle may arise that further obstructs pregnancy.