The Fertility Problem Inventory: measuring perceived infertility-related stress.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a reliable, valid instrument to evaluate perceived infertility-related stress.

DESIGN: Prospective study.

SETTING: University-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENT(S): Consecutively referred patients (1,153 women and 1,149 men) seen for infertility treatment.

INTERVENTION(S): None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Participants' infertility-related stress was assessed by written questionnaire using the Fertility Problem Inventory. Current levels of anxiety, depression, and marital satisfaction also were determined.

RESULT(S): Women described greater global stress than men and higher specific stress in terms of social concerns, sexual concerns, and need for parenthood. Both men and women facing male infertility reported higher global stress and more social and sexual concerns than men and women experiencing female infertility. Social, sexual, and relationship concerns related to infertility were more effective predictors of depression and marital dissatisfaction than expressed needs for parenthood or attitudes toward child-free living.

CONCLUSION(S): The Fertility Problem Inventory provides a reliable measure of perceived infertility-related stress and specific information on five separate domains of patient concern. Patterns of infertility-related stress differed depending on gender, fertility history, and infertility diagnosis. Among patients receiving treatment, social, sexual, and relationship concerns appear central to current distress. Counseling interventions that target these domains appear likely to offer maximal therapeutic benefit.