Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: March | Volume: 7 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 211-217
Comparative Study of Emotional Distress in Male and Female Partners With Infertility
Monika Singh1, Nitesh Kumar Singh2, Jai Singh Yadav3
1Junior resident, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
2Senior Resident, Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
3Professor, Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
Corresponding Author: Nitesh Kumar Singh
ABSTRACT
Introduction- Reproductive failure or involuntary childlessness is a significant loss for both men and women worldwide. Infertility diagnosis can greatly impact the emotional functioning of the couples dealing with the problem. Most of studies focus on psychological problems of female with infertility, neglecting emotional needs of male partners. So we undertook this study with the aim to analysis the magnitude of depression, anxiety and stress among male partner of infertile couple and compare them with their female counterparts.
Methodology- This cross-sectional descriptive study is based on the interview of the couples diagnosed with infertility coming for treatment in infertility clinic of Institute of Medical sciences, BHU , Varanasi. Fifty infertile couples (50 male & 50 female partners) underwent a detailed psychiatric evaluation by a consultant psychiatrist after written informed consent. Hamilton Depression rating scale (HAM-D) (HDRS) was used to assess Depressive symptoms and Hamilton Anxiety Rating scale (HAM-A) was used to asses anxiety symptoms. Perceived Stress scale (PSS) was used to assess the perception of stress. The statistical analyses were conducted using Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS version 23) software. The statistical significance was defined at P < 0.01.
Results- Majority of female partners, 42 % & 28% had moderate & mild depression respectively. 14 % females had severe depression whereas 56 % male partners had mild depression, 12% had moderate depression and only 4% had severe depression. Mean HAM-D score (14.5± 4.0) in female partners was significantly higher than male partners (10.2±3.7, P <.001). Majority of female partners, 76 % had moderate anxiety & 16% had mild anxiety respectively only 8 % females had severe anxiety, whereas 32 % male partners had moderate anxiety, 66% had mild anxiety and only 2% had severe anxiety. Mean HAM-A score (19.9± 3.4) in female partners was significantly higher than male partners (16.3±4.5, P <.001). Majority of couples suffered from moderate stress (72% male & 74% female), 8% male and 22% female had severe stress. Mean PSS score (20.7± 3.6) in female partners was significantly higher than male partners (16.6±5.7, P <.001). Overall Female partners suffered higher emotional stress as compared to their male counterparts.
Conclusion- Problem of infertility for couples is more than a medical diagnosis, associated emotional distress is damaging for both female as well as male partner. The need of the present hour is to use bio-psycho-social interventions for men and women undergoing infertility crisis as well as family focused interventions for the couple, to help them holistically deal with the effects of infertility
Keywords: Infertility, Emotional distress, psychiatric comorbidity, HAM-D, HAM-A, PSS
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