[Medical care effect in assisted reproductive technology on couple's sexuality]

Abstract

Objectives: Negative effect of infertility on couple's sexuality is established, and the effect of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is mostly shown as negative in the literature. This article aims to evaluate medical care in ART effect at Caen's hospital on heterosexual couple's sexuality, according to the number of ART cycles, the type of medical care and the etiology of the infertility.

Methods: An online survey with a feminine and a masculine version were distributed to patients, and then we collected the medical data from their informatics file. Questions were adapted from Female Sexual Function Index and International Index of Erectile Function-15.

Results: Number of ART cycles shown no effect on couple's sexuality. For women, artificial inseminations shown the most negative effect on their sexuality and for men it was frozen embryo transfer. Idiopathic infertility shown the most negative effect on women's sexuality.

Conclusions: The results we found were consistent with the literature data, therefore we defined groups with increased risks of sexual dysfunction (women, idiopathic infertility, artificial insemination). Sexuality should be a concern for ART clinicians. A sexual counseling and support should be offered to every couples in ART.

Keywords: Aide médicale à la procréation; Assisted; Dysfonctions sexuelles psychologique; Dysfunction; Fertilization in vitro; Fécondation in vitro; Infertility; Infertilité; Psychosexually; Reproductive techniques; Sexuality; Sexualité.