Male partners in infertile couples. Personal attitudes and contact with the Norwegian health service.

The present study summarizes the results of a questionnaire sent to 312 men involved in a fertility investigation. The answers illustrate the psychological problems linked to the infertile state, indicate that men are generally well orientated about the extent of the problem and imply an increasing negative attitude to donor insemination. In the majority of cases, the infertile couples first contacted a gynecologist rather than a general practitioner or other specialist. In over one third of the cases, this contact occurred within the first 12 months of attempting to procure a pregnancy. In most cases, the male partner was already involved in the fertility investigation at the start. Approximately one fifth had at some time consulted fringe medicine (e.g. homeopathy or acupuncture).