The Psychological Aspects of In-Vitro Fertilization

Infertility is a life crisis that affects all aspects of a couple’s life. When they
enter an in-vitro fertilization program the trauma and emotional stress becomes intensified. The first section of
this paper will review the psychological components of infertility. The second section shall focus on the
psychological issues which apply specifically to in-vitro patients. In the last section, suggestions for primary care
physicians who are directly involved in IVF programs will be made. INFERTILITY: A LIFE CRISIS A life crisis is
a stressful event or situation that poses a problem that is insolvable in the immediate future. The problem overtaxes an individual’s inner reserves because its resolution goes beyond traditional ways of solving problems.
Infertility is a life crisis, not merely a transitory state of stress and anxiety. One’s body has betrayed one, and
throughout the diagnosis and treatment profound feelings of despair, hopelessness and self-hatred are
experienced. One woman described it this way (Menning, 1977, p. 122): It is more than I can bear to think of
myself as barren. It’s like having leprosy. I feel . . . “unclean” and defective . . . empty, less than dead. Men often
feel robbed of their masculinity and sexual identity. One husband described his feelings in these words
(Menning, 1977, p. 120): I feel emasculated, I can make love to my wife 10 times a week, but she and I both
know I’m only shooting blanks. I’m sterile and that makes me feel impotent. In addition to feelings of being
damaged, infertility is viewed as a threat to one of life’s most important goals, parenthood. Infertility profoundly
affects a couple’s relationship in the bedroom.