title: Psychological reactions of couples to artificial insemination with donor sperm.
abstract: The case histories of 62 couples successfully treated by AID were established through nondirective interviews, and were surprisingly similar in all cases. Several distinct stages were regularly observed: the awareness of wanting a child while the woman cannot become pregnant; the investigation of the couple's sterility with as a result, the announcement that the husband is sterile; a period in which the couple adapt to this situation; the disappearance of the feeling of guilt both of the husband, wounded in his "virility," and of the wife, ashamed of her desire for a child; acceptance of the idea of AID; request for AID; conflict with the medical profession; the disturbing seances of AID, usually in the presence of the husband; uneasiness at the beginning of pregnancy; euphoric continuation of pregnancy; uncomplicated delivery of a child whose father is very involved in its upbringing, and then request for a second child by AID.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000523:psychology*; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy