title: Exploring involuntary childlessness in men - a qualitative study assessing quality of life, role aspects and control beliefs in men's perception of the fertility treatment process.
abstract: The goal of this study was to explore the experience and perception of men during the diagnosis of infertility and subsequent treatment, and the impact on role concepts, control beliefs, and quality of life on these processes. Furthermore, it aimed to derive improvements in how men should be counselled. A qualitative study was conducted. It consisted of 13 semi-structured individual interviews with men undergoing or about to start fertility treatment at Heidelberg University Hospital. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Men emphasized the rare opportunities for being involved in treatment, lack of control and the ambivalence of social support. Furthermore, their experiences differed enormously regarding the cause of infertility and the period for which they were preoccupied with the topic. Dealing with involuntary childlessness is challenging for all men. Nevertheless, participants revealed major differences in dealing with fertility treatment in relation to role concepts, control beliefs, social support and the cause of infertility. The significance of diverse causes of infertility and the need for men to adopt certain roles ought to be more valued and a holistic approach improving quality of life enhanced.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Medical Psychology, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine , Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg , Germany ;
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine , Women's Hospital, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rösner
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine , Women's Hospital, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine , Women's Hospital, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strowitzki
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Medical Psychology, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine , Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg , Germany ;
authors.forename: Tewes
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wischmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015984:Causality; D005783:Gender Identity; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D066296:Grounded Theory; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Control beliefs; involuntary childlessness; men; qualitative; role concepts; social support