The Relationship Between Infertility Stigma and Sexual Quality of Life in Infertile Women: A Correlational Study

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a complex crisis in marital life. Infertile couples, in addition to facing the problem of infertility and its related physical factors, experience psychological problems such as infertility stigma, which can lead to a decrease in their quality of life and sexual life. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between infertility stigma and the quality of sexual life in infertile women. Methods: This research is a correlational study. Sampling was done by convenience sampling method, and the sample size was 208 infertile women referring to the infertility center of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Khoy city, in 2024. Data collection tools included a demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Infertile Stigma Scale (ISS), and the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Female (SQOL-F). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 19 software and descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Results: The results showed that the mean score of the ISS was 23.50 ± 63.89, and the mean score of the SQOL-F was 59.41 ± 15.78. There was a significant negative relationship between infertility stigma and the sexual quality of life of infertile women (r = -0.563, sig = 0.001). The findings indicated a significant relationship between age, history of infertility, duration of infertility, and infertility treatments with the ISS (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant relationship between age, education level of the couple, and health insurance with the SQOL-F (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, health policymakers should incorporate psychological rehabilitation programs in addition to infertility treatment programs to increase the quality of life of couples.