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Background: Infertility is one of the most difficult life experiences that a couple might encounter. Infertility as a bio-psycho-social phenomenon, could influence all aspects of life. While paying special attention to the psychological aspects of infertility in couples; many studies have investigated the non-clinical aspects of infertility, however, they rarely have evaluated the psychosocial development of infertile versus fertile men. We aimed to study the effects of infertility on psychosocial development in men. Methods: In fact, we designed the study based on "Erikson's theory of psychosocial development". We focused on the relationship between psychosocial development and some self-conceived indices. For this purpose, we divided the participants volunteers into two groups of cases (80 infertile men) and controls (40 fertile men) and asked them to complete a 112 (questions questionnaire based on "self description"). The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS (version 13) using independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and analysis of covariance. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data analysis showed significant inter and intra group differences. Infertile and fertile groups showed significant differences in trust, autonomy, generativity and integrity stages (p<0.05). Infertile intergroup analysis represents us to higher scores in positive than negative stages. Conclusion: Infertility as a phenomenon had its own effects on the psychosocial development of infertile men. However, good coping skills are powerful tools to manage these myriad of feelings surrounding infertile men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body Image as a multidimensional entity is related to both physical and psychological aspects of the image one has of his or her own body. Lack/absence of an acceptable body image is one of the reasons of mental distress in infertile individuals. Methods: In this study, an equal number (No=120) of fertile and infertile men attending Avicenna Infertility Clinic (AIC) were enrolled. The participants were compared in regard to body image variables based on the "Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ)" consisting of 10 subscales. Data was analyzed by SPSS, version 11.5, using Chi square and independent t-tests. Results: Fertile men had a more positive body image as compared to infertile individuals. Significant statistical differences were observed when body image subscales were compared in both groups; in other words appearance evaluation, appearance orientation, Novy, health evaluation, health orientation, illness orientation, body satisfaction, overweight preoccupation and self-classified weight showed differences, while no significant difference was observed in regard to fitness orientation. Conclusion: It seems that the ability and efficiency of body image is affected by infertility leading to dissatisfaction of one's body image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, the high likelihood of the implantation of transferred embryos has led to an increase in the number of multiple pregnancies and consequently an increased risk of complications in fetuses and mothers. Since the aim of infertility treatment is the birth of a healthy child while preserving the mother's health, therefore, attempts should be made to avoid multiple pregnancies as much as possible besides maintaining the women's chance of pregnancy by transferring an appropriate number of embryos. Methods: The population under study consisted of specialists (gynecologists and embryologists) who worked in ART clinics across the country and had attended an infertility congress in Tehran in 2008. The devised questionnaire enquired about the infertility specialists' attitude towards the appropriate number of transferable embryos. The questions were designed on a Likert scale of strongly agree, agree, indifferent, disagree and strongly disagree. The scores of the questionnaire ranged from 0-60 which were later scaled up to 100 for ease of data analysis. Accordingly, scores below 50 were considered as "negative", 50-75 "moderate" and greater than 75 as "positive". Results: Overall, 9.9% of the specialists gained a score less than 50 (negative view), 67.3% between 50-75 (moderate) and 22.8% greater than 75 (positive view). Conclusion: The infertility specialists in Iran are relatively reluctant to transfer a high number of embryos for infertility treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]