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Marital relationships in couples seeking donor insemination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Michael Humphrey  and
Heather Humphrey
Michael Humphrey
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London
Heather Humphrey
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London
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Summary

Findings are reported on 100 couples who had requested donor insemination as a means of circumventing male infertility. Twelve couples dropped out, but the remainder were graded for personal acceptability. Forty-six couples were recommended with only minor reservations if any, 40 were seen as unsatisfactory in varying degree, and two were rejected owing to gross marital and sexual problems. In one couple, early marital breakdown after childbirth occurred.

A strong sense of mutual commitment may be the norm in such couples but exchange of affection between partners, as measured by the Ryle marital patterns test, was less vivid than in an earlier study of childless couples waiting to adopt. The infertile husband may be in particular need of emotional support from his wife, and a careful appraisal of the marriage seems warranted before treatment.

Type
Review
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , April 1987 , pp. 209 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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