title: Sexual satisfaction of infertile couples assessed using the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS).
abstract: Recently, infertility treatment-related psychological effects are receiving increased attention. However, whether sexual satisfaction is reduced amongst infertile couples remains to be elucidated. In this study, sexual satisfaction of Japanese infertile couples was assessed using a validated questionnaire designed to assess the male and female partner individually, and the couple as a whole for the first time. This study randomly included 170 infertile couples seen at the outpatient clinic and 170 couples that had recently achieved spontaneous pregnancy. All couples were given the Japanese version of the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). In couples aged 35 years or older, the male partners showed significantly worse sexual satisfaction scores than the female partners. Sexual satisfaction also deteriorated with therapeutic interventions, with mental factors affected more than physical factors. Therapeutic interventions such as timed sexual intercourse and assisted reproductive technology were considered emotionally stressful for infertile couples, with sexual satisfaction accordingly lower in this group than in couples achieving spontaneous pregnancy. GRISS successfully evaluated lower sexual satisfaction associated with infertility, and hence is a useful tool for identifying couples whose sexual satisfaction could be enhanced by counselling or other stress-reduction modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamatani
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawadacho Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan [2] Ginza Ladies Clinic Institute for Reproductive Medicine, 4-6-11 Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuji
authors.affiliation: Women's Medical Centre of Sanno Medical Centre, 8-5-35 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawadacho Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012737:Sex Factors; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires