The effect of infertility on marriage and self-concept.

Two groups of subjects (couples seeking medical treatment for infertility and couples not yet attempting to conceive) completed questionnaires assessing the impact of infertility on their marriages and self-concept. Infertile individuals experienced greater dissatisfaction with themselves and their marriages. Females experienced greater discontent over time and had greater emotional investment than males. Infertile couples, labeled noncommunicators, were found to be affected even more by infertility. Nurses can play vital roles in counseling infertile couples.