Anxiety and Depression among Men Undergoing Treatment for Infertility - A Clinic Based Study

Abstract

Background: Anxiety and depression are major psychological issues that infertile couples face. Most of the studies on this subject have been done with reference to women. Objectives: To study whether the male partners in infertile couples suffer from anxiety and depression. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 253 men of couples undergoing infertility treatment in Pattambi, Kerala. Socio demographic data Sheet, Sinha Anxiety Scale and becks depression inventory are used as measures. Results: Depression - 5.5% severe, 9.1% moderate, 15.8% mild and 69.6% minimal. Age, education status, economic activity (occupation), duration of married life, infertility factor (Male, Female, Combined and unexplained) and religion do not show any correlation with the level of Depression. Anxiety - 0.4% show high level, 26.5% medium level. 73.1% low level. Age, occupation (economic activity), duration of married life, infertility factors or religion don’t show any relationship with anxiety.Educational levels influence the level of anxiety. Lower educational levels result in higher levels of anxiety. Anxiety and Depression levels show a direct positive correlation. Conclusion: Psycho socially infertility affects not only women but men also. This study shows that among infertile couples men also suffer from anxiety and depression.