title: Distress of infertile males after fertility workup: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Former research has revealed that distress declines after fertility workup. It was the aim of the present study to explore whether this decline depends on such aspects as the diagnosis or the former usage of fertility services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients attending an andrological clinic filled out questionnaires on distress and coping behaviour at clinic attendance as well as 4 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For distress scores there was an interaction between time and former usage of infertility services, indicating that only first-time consulters show a decline in distress after fertility workup. No impact of diagnosis on distress scores could be detected. Generally, patients showed a decrease of active coping behaviour after fertility workup, along with a greater tendency to accept infertility as one's fate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that there are different processes working in first-time and repeat consulters with respect to the course of distress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Siegen, Germany. pook@psychologie.uni-siegen.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pook
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drescher
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D013315:Stress, Psychological