The effects of gender-specific diagnosis on men's and women's response to infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if differences could be distinguished between men's and women's emotional response to infertility based on the assignment of a gender-specific diagnosis.


METHODS
Gender-specific diagnoses were examined in relation to stigma, perception of loss, role failure, and self-esteem, using structured interviews.


METHODS
Tertiary clinical care in private practice settings.


METHODS
Thirty-six self-selected volunteer couples undergoing infertility treatment.


METHODS
Stigma, perception of loss, role failure, and lowered self-esteem emerged from content analysis of structured interview data.


RESULTS
No differences were found among women in their emotional response to infertility regardless of whether a female or male infertility factor was present, whereas men with a male factor experienced more negative emotional response to infertility than men without a male factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Although both women and men are affected by infertility, their emotional response is significantly influenced by a gender-specific diagnosis. Men's response to infertility closely approximates that of women if the infertility has been attributed to a male factor but differs considerably if a male factor is not found.
Nachtigall
R D
RD
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, University of California, San Francisco 04143-0612.
Becker
G
G
Wozny
M
M
D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012727:Sex Characteristics