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The aim of this study is to investigate the gender inequalities in perceived stress and the influencing factors in infertile couples in Iranian society.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on infertile couples who were referring to Kurdistan Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment Medical Center in 2019. Demographic and clinical information questionnaire, Newton's Infertility perceived stress questionnaire, Rosenberg's standard self-confidence questionnaire and the multidimensional scale of social support were used. Multiple linear logistic models were also used.

A total of 560 couples (1,120 people) participated in the study. The average perceived infertility-related stress, self-esteem scores and social support and social-emotional loneliness were 173.95 ± 41.87, 13.99 ± 2.29 and 27.81 ± 7.33, respectively, which were significantly different scores across infertility cause and sex (P < 0.05). Males compared to females had lower perceived infertility-related stress (169.93 ± 42.51 vs 177.97 ± 40.86, P = 0.001) and self-esteem scores (14.33 ± 2.29 vs 13.66 ± 2.24, P < 0.001) and social support and social-emotional loneliness (32.92 ± 9.31 vs 30.94 ± 9.04, P < 0.001). The partners who reported themselves as infertile, compared significantly higher in perceived infertility-related stress than those who reported their spouse being infertile (194.24 ± 35.33 vs 141.90 ± 39.28), lower self-esteem scores (12.77 ± 2.21 vs 13.94 ± 1.56) and social support and social-emotional loneliness score (27.81 ± 7.33 vs 30.11 ± 7.70). Also, after taking potential confounders into account with increase in each score of self-esteem, 12.19 units of stress decreases (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 11.40–12.99) and with increase in each score of social support and social-emotional loneliness, 3.45 units of stress decreases (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 3.28–3.63).

There is perceived stress among infertile couples, and this rate is higher among infertile people and women. Therefore, it seems that specific intervention programs for infertile couples should be implemented based on the results of this study, and their stress levels in a way that self-esteem and support for both partners be increased and the perceived stress among women and infertile individuals be decreased.

The study aims to determine the relationship between emotional maturity and domestic violence in infertile women.

The cross-sectional study was conducted on 184 infertile women. Demographic questionnaire, Emotional Maturity Scale and domestic violence questionnaire were used to collect data. The Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

More than 50% of the women in the study experienced domestic violence, and about the same percentage of them had unstable emotional maturity. The total score of domestic violence and its types were significantly related to the women’s emotional maturity (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the significant relationship was found between domestic violence with Spouse's education level (primary/secondary) [OR = 0.25 (0.09–0.66)] and emotional maturity (unstable) [OR = 3.59 (1.83–7.02)].

The overall prevalence of infertility in Iran was 7% in 2021. Furthermore, although infertility is a problem among couples, most of its social burden lies with women. In a number of developing countries, as well as in Iran, childbearing is perceived as a social value for married women. Therefore, infertile women are at risk for depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, dissatisfaction and reduced quality of life.

This study found that half of the surveyed women experienced domestic violence. Women’s emotional immaturity, as well as their spouses’ lower education level and type of occupation, were highly correlated with women’s experience of domestic violence. To help prevent domestic violence among couples, there should be couple training classes to improve women’s emotional maturity.”

Becoming a mother is a significant transition in adult development. For women who wanted to have children but found themselves unable to do so, life without the fulfilment of motherhood can affect meaning-making in everyday life. Although increasing numbers of studies concerning childlessness have been carried out, much of this research has tended to focus on infertility and issues around fertility treatments. Little is known, however, about the psychological impact childlessness can have on women in midlife and how they experience the absence of children. The aim of this chapter is to offer readers an overview of psychological understanding in current research trends by reviewing papers that focus on women in midlife who are involuntarily childless. Findings from the 40 most relevant papers will be discussed under one of four key features: (1) psychological distress: medical consequences of infertility, (2) childlessness: life-span perspectives, (3) involuntary childlessness: psychosocial perspectives and (4) coping: ways of building resilience. The findings point to the dominance of quantitative approaches in researching infertility, while confirming that little has been carried out that looks at lived experience of involuntary childlessness. I hope the findings shown here will point to the necessity of psychological research applying qualitative experiential approaches that can facilitate a deeper understanding of women facing this challenge.

This study aimed to examine the effect of causes of infertility related to gender differences on the distress level of women who were treated for infertility.

This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The sample consisted of 314 women who were treated for infertility between September 2016 and June 2017. Data were collected as “Sociodemographic Characteristics Form” and “Infertility Distress Scale.”

A statistically significant difference was found between the mean distress scores of the women for whom the reason for infertility was related to a female factor, and of the women for whom this reason was related to a male factor.

The situation should be determined with quantitative studies, and the reason for the differences should be determined with qualitative studies.

Infertility nurses should develop a care plan that ensures that couples understand their feelings, and which enhances their mutual respect and partnership.

The study highlights the importance of cultural awareness in the care of infertile couples.

The authors highlight some important aspects about the gender difference on women's distress level.

Examining infertility through the prism of gender allows a more refined understanding of what infertility does to persons. Draw on the research conducted in a public centre for assisted reproduction in Italy, this chapter will show how the diagnosis of infertility fits into a medical description which is differentiated according to gender. By analyzing the way in which infertility is described and constructed in the course of consultations, we will see how infertility is understood both as a modality of relationship and action and as a property of persons.

The connection between women’s empowerment and health has been a growing concern among demographers and other social scientists, who theorize that empowering women – or enhancing their ability to define and make strategic life choices – will improve their reproductive health (Kabeer, 1999). The importance of empowering women became a central theme at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. The Cairo policy document codified the notion that women must be empowered in order for them and societies as a whole reach their reproductive health goals, including lowering fertility and population growth, stemming the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS, and ensuring healthy pregnancy and delivery (Hodgson & Watkins, 1997; Sen & Batliwala, 2000).

This paper analyzes how an infertile body is shaped by social discourses and reproductive technologies. Reproductive governances are articulated in this context by ideas and social values regarding family and motherhood, the binomial of infertility-TRA, legislation and norms and health professionals' practices. In addition, it shows how diverse infertile bodies experience (and withstand) these reproductive governances. Various sources have been consulted, including newspapers, biographical books, bibliographic sources from specialized literature and interviews carried out by the author.

This study was conducted to analyze the correlation between gender perception and infertility distress of infertile women.

This was a descriptive-analytical study conducted with 255 women receiving treatment in the in vitro fertilization unit of a medical faculty hospital in Turkey. Study data were collected using sociodemographic questions as well as the Perception of Gender Scale (PGS) and the Infertility Distress Scale (IDS).

It was found that the PGS mean score was 69.65 and the IDS mean score was 53.1. It was determined that there was a negative, moderate and significant correlation between gender perception and infertility distress levels of women in the infertility treatment process (r = −0.263, p < 0.001).

As a result of the study, a negative, moderate, significant correlation was detected between gender perception and infertility distress.

The purpose of this paper is to offer a Christian perspective on the ethical issues related to natural procreation and artificial reproduction methods.

This paper uses descriptive and comparative methodology between the ethical aspects specific to natural procreation and artificial reproduction.

Religious beliefs play a significant role in shaping the moral perspective when an infertile couple is confronted with the choice between natural procreation and artificial reproduction.

This paper survey a broad bibliography and offers a critical evaluation of the moral aspects specific to different methods of reproductive technologies compared to the natural procreation approach.