Sex and infertility. Part II. Influence of psychogenic factors and psychosexual problems.
In a study of 514 couples ignorance about sex because of a complete lack of or inadequate sex education resulted in an unfavourable attitude towards sexual behaviour which adversely affected their fertility. Sexual activities which gave rise to feelings of guilt, fear or anguish had a dramatic effect on fertility; most important were premarital intercourse, criminal and therapeutic abortion, illegitimate children and prostitution. Psychosexual problems were found to have a direct influence on intercourse, as the results of post-coital tests showed. In 18.3% of cases severe psychosexual problems caused infertile couples to use lubricating substances to facilitate intercourse; this had a deleterious effect on penile penetration and on the migration of spermatozoa in the cervical mucus.
van Zyl
J A
JA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Stellenbosch, Parowvallei, CP.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000150:complications*