title: Psychological distress before and immediately after attendance at a male sub-fertility clinic.
abstract: Where treatment options are limited, the role of clinical consultation in providing information and support becomes more important. This study examines the immediate impact of medical consultation on male sub-fertility clinic attender's anxiety, depression, self-blame, information appraisal and perceptions of future fertility. Data were collected pre- and immediately post-consultation. Clinical information and consultation details were recorded. Results showed that anxiety levels were high before consultation. Following consultation anxiety and self-blame were both reduced while depression increased. Despite information about poor prognosis being given during consultation, participants remained overly optimistic about their chances of achieving a pregnancy. It appears that the consultation has a distinct psychological impact and possible mechanisms underlying this are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gannon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sherr
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Abel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*