Evaluation of the Psychological Status, Infertility-Associated Factors, and Erectile Function in Patients with Timely Ovulatory Intercourse Failure in China: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract EN

Background and Objective.

Knowledge on the clinical features of timely ovulatory intercourse failure (TOIF) is limited.

The current study is aimed at investigating the psychological status, infertility-associated factors, and erectile function in males with TOIF.

Material and Methods.

Between June 2018 and December 2018, all qualified patients of infertile couples were continuously enrolled from the andrologic clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Semen analyses and demographic data were collected, and the International Index of Erectile Function 15 (IIEF-15) questionnaire was used to evaluate the erectile function in the participants with or without TOIF.

In addition, the Mental Health Inventory-5 and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Short Form questionnaires were used to evaluate the psychological status.

Results.

A total of 1128 patients were enrolled, and 264 of them (23.40%) suffered from TOIF.

TOIF was positively associated with smoking, drinking, hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, unknown cause of infertility, lower semen concentration, lower frequency of intercourse, and decreased erectile function.

The total IIEF-15 scores, erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction were significantly decreased in patients with TOIF.

Conclusion.

TOIF is associated with lower semen concentration, anxiety, and other comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes.

Clinicians are required to focus on these associated factors in addition to improve the erectile function.