Is infertility a risk factor for impaired male fertility?

BACKGROUND: Previous research has suggested an interaction between distress and male fertility. The present longitudinal study sought to deliver evidence for a negative impact of distress due to infertility on sperm concentration. METHODS: The sample consisted of 120 patients who twice visited an andrological clinic on their own initiative for fertility work-ups. Baseline and follow-up examinations were at least 6 months apart. Prior to each fertility work-up, patients completed a questionnaire assessing distress due to infertility. RESULTS: Path analyses revealed that the level of infertility distress at follow-up has a negative impact on the change in sperm quality from baseline to follow-up assessment. Distress scores were highly stable. As a consequence, the level of distress at baseline assessment provided only little additional information for the changes in sperm concentration. Further analysis suggested that the fertility status had no impact on infertility distress. CONCLUSION: The present study delivers the strongest evidence to date that distress due to infertility is a significant risk factor for a decrease in sperm quality.