Temperament and character in couples with fertility disorders: a double-blind, controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the personality features of infertile patients.


METHODS
A double-blind, controlled study.


METHODS
An outpatient facility for diagnosis and care of infertility.


METHODS
We assessed 142 infertile couples with obstetric-gynecologic clinical and instrumental examinations. The couples were divided into three groups: organic infertility, functional infertility, and infertility of uncertain origin. The third group was excluded.


METHODS
Organic infertility and functional infertility were ascertained with gynecologic and andrologic clinical examinations, seminal liquid examination, postcoital testing, progesterone assay, hysterosalpingography, biopsy of endometrium, and laparoscopy. Personality traits were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).


METHODS
Results of the Temperament and Character Inventory.


RESULTS
Infertile women showed lower Cooperativeness than control women. Women with functional infertility had lower scores in Cooperativeness and Self-Directedness than women with organic infertility. Men belonging to the functional infertility group had a lower Novelty Seeking score than did those of the organic infertility group. Men and women in the functional infertility group showed higher Harm Avoidance than those in the organic infertility and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results emphasize that the study of personality in the diagnostic and therapeutic assessment of infertility might provide useful predictive elements for functional infertility.
Fassino
Secondo
S
Outpatient Service for Fertility Disorders, St Anna Hospital, Turin, Italy. secondo.fassino@unito.it
Garzaro
Lorenzo
L
Peris
Clementina
C
Amianto
Federico
F
Pierò
Andrea
A
Abbate Daga
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D002605:Character; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013694:Temperament