Psychosomatic and Behavioural Mechanisms in Psychogenic Infertility

Abstract

‘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.