BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In a previous study, we found a higher degree of alexithymia and somatization in infertile men (Hum Reprod 2001 Vol.16(3),587-592). This study was designed to confirm the findings of the former study PATIENTS/ METHODS: 88 infertile men (48 idiopathic infertility, 40 somatic infertility) were consecutively enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 44 healthy men. Alexithymia was measured by the 20-item-Toronto-Alexithymia-Scale;somatization was measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-R. RESULTS: There were no differences between the subgroups of infertile men. The study group showed a significantly higher sum score in the TAS-20 (p<0.01) and a higher score on the scale somatization in the Symptom Checklist-90-R (p<0.05) compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study replicated the findings of the previous investigation. Alexithymia and somatization are discussed as consequences of coping with male infertility.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In a previous study, we found a higher degree of alexithymia and somatization in infertile men (Hum Reprod 2001 Vol.16(3),587-592). This study was designed to confirm the findings of the former study PATIENTS/ METHODS: 88 infertile men (48 idiopathic infertility, 40 somatic infertility) were consecutively enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 44 healthy men. Alexithymia was measured by the 20-item-Toronto-Alexithymia-Scale;somatization was measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-R. RESULTS: There were no differences between the subgroups of infertile men. The study group showed a significantly higher sum score in the TAS-20 (p<0.01) and a higher score on the scale somatization in the Symptom Checklist-90-R (p<0.05) compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study replicated the findings of the previous investigation. Alexithymia and somatization are discussed as consequences of coping with male infertility.
Authors: Piotr Kocełak; Jerzy Chudek; Beata Naworska; Monika Bąk-Sosnowska; Barbara Kotlarz; Monika Mazurek; Paweł Madej; Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta; Piotr Skałba; Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz Journal: Int J Endocrinol Date: 2012-07-16 Impact factor: 3.257