Primary infertility and health-related quality of life in Upper Egypt

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of infertility on the health-related quality of life and sexual function of infertile women in Upper Egypt.

Method: The Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ) C30, version 2, and a visual analog scale were used to assess the quality of life and sexual satisfaction of 116 women with primary infertility and 116 fertile women with similar sociodemographic characteristics. We also looked for associations between the results and infertility duration.

Results: Compared with the fertile women, the women with primary infertility had significantly lower scores for both health-related quality of life and sexual function, and their sexual function was the most disturbed during the fourth, fifth, and sixth years of their marriage.

Conclusion: Women with primary infertility need to be treated medically and psychologically to improve their quality of life and sexual function.