Couples' reactions to male infertility and donor insemination.
The author interviewed 16 couples after the husband had been diagnosed as infertile. Eleven husbands experienced a period of impotency. Fourteen of the women experienced anger toward the husband, psychiatric symptoms, and/or dreams about their concern for the husband, a wish to be rid of him, and guilt over this wish. Ten couples had decided to pursue donor insemination; 6 had delayed 1 3/4 to 4 years after the diagnosis of infertility and had a better adjustment than 3 of the 4 couples who did not. The author believes that the total secrecy involved in donor insemination inhibits the working through of conflicts about infertility and donor insemination itself.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making; D004325:Dreams; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000523:psychology*; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior