A modern view of the problem on infertile marriage: A literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37800/RM.1.2024.147-157Keywords:
infertility, social aspects of infertility, the impact of infertility on mental healthAbstract
Relevance: Infertility remains a neglected issue in sexual and reproductive health, but its consequences are enormous. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that infertility affects 10 to 25% (48 to 180 million) of reproductive-aged couples worldwide. It is associated with adverse physical and mental health consequences of infertility, significant social stigma, increased risk of domestic violence, and marital instability. Although men and women are equally susceptible to infertility, women often bear the social burden of infertility, especially in societies where a woman’s identity and social value are closely tied to her ability to bear children.
The study aimed to determine the impact of infertile marriage on the sociocultural health of married couples.
Materials and Methods: We searched the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar, Ref list, and PMC using the keywords «infertility,» «social aspects of infertility,» and «impact of infertility on mental health.» The review included 45 open-access articles published between 2017 and 2022.
Results: Analysis of the review results shows that psychological consequences, economic difficulties, and physical health affect the sociocultural health of infertile couples. The results of this study can be taken into account when managing infertile couples, their psychological state and social status, and having a positive impact on solving the problem of infertility.
Conclusion: The study results have practical implications. Key findings inform practitioners about the importance of levels of sociocultural health related to infertility and perceived social support in women’s choice of coping strategies, which helps develop and adapt interventions and couples counseling strategies. The study’s findings highlight the need to advocate for social policies to better support women diagnosed with infertility in particular and people, including both men and women, with this reproductive health problem in general.
References
World Health Organization. WHO fact sheet on infertility. Global Reprod Health. 2021;6(1):e52.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/GRH.0000000000000052
E.gov Ansagan Sabi [Internet]. cited: December 27, 2021.
https://egov.kz/cms/ru/articles/health_care/eco
Suleimenova M, Lokshin V, Glushkova N, Karibayeva S, Terzic M. Quality-of-Life Assessment of Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization in Kazakhstan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(20):13568.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013568
Lokshin V, Omar M, Karibaeva S. Assisted Reproductive Technologies in the Republic of Kazakhstan: A 6-Year Trend Analysis from Efficacy to Availability. J Reprod Infertil. 2022;23:61-66.
https://doi.org/10.18502/jri.v23i1.8454
Локшин В.Н., Омар М., Карибаева Ш.К. Доступность лечения бесплодия с помощью ВРТ в различных социально-экономических группах. Обзор литературы. Репрод. мед. 2019;3(40):8-12.
Lokshin VN, Omar M, Karibaeva ShK. The availability of infertility treatment using ART in various socio-economic groups. Literature review. Reprod med. 2019;3(40):8-12. (in Russ.).
https://repromed.kz/index.php/journal/issue/view/27
Lokshin V., Omar M., Karibaeva Sh. Assisted Reproductive Technologies in the Republic of Kazakhstan: A 6-Year Trend Analysis from Efficacy to Availability. J Reprod Infertil. 2022;23(1):61-66.
https://doi.org/10.18502/jri.v23i1.8454
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Definitions of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss: A committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2020;113:533-535.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.09.023
Datta J, Palmer MJ, Tanton C, Gibson LJ, Jones KG, Macdowall W, Glasier A, Sonnenberg P, Field N, Mercer CH. Prevalence of infertilityand help seeking among 15,000 women and men. Human Reprod. 2017;31:2108-2118.
https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew123
Lasheras G, Mestre-Bach G, Clua E, Rodríguez I, Farré-Sender B. Cross-Border Reproductive Care: Psychological Distress in A Sample of Women Undergoing In Vitro FertilizationTreatment with and without Oocyte Donation. Int J Fertil Steril. 2020;14:130.
https://doi.org/10.22074/ijfs.2020.5997
Aimagambetova G, Issanov A, Terzic S, Bapayeva G, Ukybassova T, Baikoshkarova S, Aldiyarova A, Shauyen F, Terzic M. The effect of psychological distress on IVF outcomes: Reality or speculations? PLoS ONE. 2020;15:e0242024.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242024
Bapayeva G, Aimagambetova G, Issanov A, Terzic S, Ukybassova T, Aldiyarova A, Utepova G, Daribay Z, Bekbossinova G, Balykov A. The effect of stress, anxiety and depression on in vitro fertilization outcome in kazakhstani public clinical setting: A cross-sectional study. J Clin Med. 2021;10:937.
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10050937
Micie J, Aimagambetova G, Terzic S, Bapayeva G, Kongrtay K, Laganà AS, Terzic M. Psychological factors and infertility. In: Advances in Health and Disease. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers; 2021;38:67-95.
https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12030431
Gurunath S, Pandian Z, Anderson RA, Bhattacharya S. Defining infertility: A systematic review of prevalence studies. Hum Reprod Upd. 2017;17(5):575-588.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmr015
Boivine J, Bunting L, Collins JA, Nygren KG. International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment seeking: Potential need and demand for infertility medical care. Hum. Reprod. 2017;22(6):1506-1512.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dem299
Mascarenhas MN, Cheung H, Mathers CD, Stevens GA. Measuring infertility in populations: Constructing a standard definition for use with demographic and reproductive health surveys. Popul Health Metrics. 2017;10(1):17.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1478-7954-10-17
Polis CB, Cox CM, Tunçalp O, McLain AC, Thoma ME. Estimating infertility prevalence in low-to-middle-income countries: An application of a current duration approach to demographic and health survey data. Hum Reprod. 2017;32(5):1064-1074.
https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dex025
Adetoro OO, Ebomoyi EW. In vivo antiplasmodial activities and acute toxicity assessment of two plant cocktail extracts commonly used among Southwestern Nigerians. J Parasitic Dis. 2022;46(2):343-353.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-021-01450-6
Starrs AM, Ezeh AC, Barker G, Basu A, Bertrand JT, Blum R, Ashford LS. Accelerate progress-sexual and reproductive health and rights for all: Report of the Guttmacher–Lancet Commission. Lancet. 2018;391(10140):2642-2692.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30293-9
Zegers-Hochschild F, Adamson GD, Dyer S, Racowsky C, De Mouzon J, Sokol R, Van der Poel S. The international glossary on infertility and fertility care. Fertil Steril. 2017;108(3):393-406.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.06.005
Randall AK, Bodenmann G. The role of stress on close relationships and marital satisfaction. Clin Psy Rev. 2019;29(2):105-115.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2008.10.004
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 Counsel. 2017;59(3):244-251.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/der209
Peterson BD, Newton CR, Rosen KH. Examining congruence between partners’ perceived infertility-related stress and its relationship to marital adjustment and depression in infertile couples. Family Process. 2019;42(1):59-70.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2003.00059.x
Peterson BD, Newton CR, Rosen KH, Schulman RS. Coping processes of couples experiencing infertility. Family Relations. 2017;55(2):227–239.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00372.x
Birenbaum Bell AV. I’m not really 100% a woman if I can’t have a kid: Infertility and the intersection of gender, identity, and the body. Gender Society. 2019;33:629-651.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0891243219849526
Parrott FR. At the hospital I learnt the truth: Diagnosing male infertility in rural Malawi. Anthropology & Medicine. 2017;21(2):174–188.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13648470.2014.915618
Inhorn MC, Patrizio P. Infertility around the globe: New thinking on gender, reproductive technologies and global movements in the 21st century. Hum Reprod Upd. 2018;21(4):411-426.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmv016
Fledderjohann J. Difficulties conceiving and relationship stability in sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Ghana. Eur J Popul. 2017;33(1):129-152.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10680-016-9401-5
Berntsen S, Söderström-Anttila V, Wennerholm UB, Laivuori H, Loft A, Oldereid NB, Romundstad LB, Bergh C, Pinborg A. The health of children conceived by ART: The chicken or the egg? Hum Reprod Upd. 2019;25(2):137-158.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/curroncol29080453
Rumbold AR, Moore VM, Whitrow MJ, Oswald TK, Moran LJ, Fernandez RC, Barnhart KT, Davies MJ. The impact of specific fertility treatments on cognitive development in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review. Hum Reprod. 2017;32(7):1489-1507. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dex085
Turkgeldi E, Yagmur H, Seyhan A, Urman B, Ata B. Short and long-term outcomes of children conceived with assisted reproductive technology. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod. Biol. 2017;207:129-136.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.10.010
Guo XY, Liu XM, Jin L, Wang TT, Ullah K, Sheng JZ, Huang HF. Cardiovascular and metabolic profiles of offspring conceived by assisted reproductive technologies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2017;107(3):622-631.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.12.007
Thoma ME. Measuring infertility: Searching for consensus. J Women’s Health. 2015;24(7):541-543.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.20.252049
Fledderjohann J, Johnson DR. Impaired fertility and perceived difficulties conceiving in Ghana: Measurement problems and prospects. J Biosoc Sci. 2017;48(4):431-456.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932015000310
Olsen J, Juul S, Basso O. Measuring time to pregnancy. Methodological issues to consider. 2018;13(7):1751-1753.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdn005
Jenkins J, Daya S, Kremer J, Balasch J, Barratt C, Cooke I, Nygren K. European Classification of Infertility Taskforce (ECIT) response to Habbema “towards less confusing terminology in reproductive medicine: A proposal. Hum Reprod. 2017;19(12):2687-2688.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deh499
Ackerson K, Zielinski R. Factors influencing use of family planning in women living in crisis affected areas of sub-Saharan Africa: A review of the literature. Midwifery. 2017;54:35-60.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2020.1820238
Larsen U. Research on infertility: Which definition should we use? Fertil Steril. 2018;83(4):846-852.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.11.033
Smarr MM, Sapra, KJ, Gemmill A, Kahn LG, Wise LA, Lynch CD, Buck Louis GM. Is human fecundity changing? A discussion of research and data gaps precluding us from having an answer. Hum Reprod. 2017;32(3):499-504.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew361
Gnoth C, Godehardt E, Frank-Herrmann P, Friol K, Tigges J, Freundl G. Definition and prevalence of subfertility and infertility. Human Reproduction. 2017;20(5):1144-1147.
https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deh870
Joffe M. Invited commentary: The potential for monitoring of fecundity and the remaining challenges. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2019;157(2):89-93.
https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwf177
Jacobson MH, Chin HB, Mertens AC, Spencer JB, Fothergill A, Howards PP. “Research on infertility: Definition makes a difference” revisited. Am J Epidemiol. 2018;187(2):337-346.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwx240
Greil AL, Mc Quillan J, Johnson K, Slauson-Blevins K, Shreffler KM. The hidden infertile: Infertile women without pregnancy intent in the United States. Fertil Steril. 2017;93(6):2080-2083.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.08.024
Slama R, Ballester F, Casas M, Cordier S, Eggesbo M, Iniguez C, Vrijheid M. Epidemiologic tools to study the influence of environmental factors on fecundity and pregnancy–related outcomes. Epidemiol Rev. 2014;36(1):148-164.
https://doi.org/10.1093/epirev/mxt011
Greil AL, Slauson-Blevins KS, Tiemeyer S, McQuillan J, Shreffler KM. A new way to estimate the potential unmet need for infertility services among women in the United States. J Women’s Health. 2017;25(2):133-138.
https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2015.5390
Журабекова Г.А., Тойчиева Г.К., Сарсенова Л.К., Оралхан Ж, Бершина Н.В., Бердалинова А.К., Бимаганбетова Л.Ш., Ким О.В., Балмагамбетова А.Д., Ахаева Т.А. Значение различных факторов в развитии женского первичного бесплодия: обзор литературы. Репродуктивная медицина. 2023;4(57):58-64.
Zhurabekova GA, Tojchieva GK, Sarsenova LK, Oralhan Zh, Bershina NV, Berdalinova AK, Bimaganbetova LSh, Kim OV, Balmagambetova AD, Ahaeva TA. The importance of various factors in the development of female primary infertility: a literature review. Reproduktivnaja medicina. 2023;4(57):58-64. (in Russ.).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 The rights to a manuscript accepted for publication are transferred to the Journal Publisher. When reprinting all or part of the material, the author must refer to the primary publication in this journal.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The articles published in this Journal are licensed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution – Non-Commercial – No Derivatives 4.0 International) license, which provides for their non-commercial use only. Under this license, users have the right to copy and distribute the material in copyright but are not permitted to modify or use it for commercial purposes. Full details on the licensing are available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
