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Psychosomatic and Behavioural Mechanisms in Psychogenic Infertility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

F. M. M. Mai ,
R. N. Munday  and
E. E. Rump
F. M. M. Mai
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, University of Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia
R. N. Munday
Affiliation:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia
E. E. Rump
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia
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Extract

‘Psychogenic infertility’ refers to the state of childlessness in which psychological factors play an aetiological role. Use of the term ‘psychogenic’ implies that there is a reluctance or an ambivalence on the part of one or both partners towards conception. There is a considerable literature on psychogenic infertility, which has been reviewed elsewhere (Noyes and Chapnick, 1964; Mai, 1969). Although much of this literature is conflicting and inconclusive, it does suggest an association between disturbed sexuality and infertility in the female. Such a causal relationship might be mediated by two types of mechanism.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 120 , Issue 555 , February 1972 , pp. 199 - 204
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1972 

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