By Maddy Torres
This blog is a summary of our published article:
Péloquin, K., Beauvilliers, L., Benoît, Z., Brassard, A. & Rosen, N. O. (2024). Sexual well-being among individuals undergoing medically assisted reproduction. A review of recent literature. Current Sexual Health Reports, 16, 66-106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-024-00384-3
Medically assisted reproduction and sexual well-being: What’s the connection?
Medically assisted reproduction (MAR), also previously known as fertility treatment, includes procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), hormone therapy, and other medical interventions that help individuals or couples conceive when navigating infertility. Infertility is typically defined as the inability to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse.
Sexual well-being goes beyond just sexual function—it includes how satisfied, confident, and emotionally connected people feel in their sexual lives. This can involve desire, enjoyment, intimacy, self-esteem, and the absence of sexual distress. It’s a vital part of quality of life and relationships—but often overlooked in medical care, especially in the context of medically assisted reproduction.
What did we want to know?
While medically assisted reproduction is often focused on achieving pregnancy, the impact it has on sexual well-being is less understood. This review set out to explore how MAR affects people’s sexual health and satisfaction.
The researchers wanted to know:
- How common are sexual difficulties among individuals undergoing medically assisted reproduction?
- What psychological, relational, or medical factors are linked to those difficulties?
- Are there interventions that help support sexual well-being during or after treatment?
Photo by prostooleh on Freepik
What did we do?
Researchers reviewed 83 studies published between January 2018 and September 2023 for a total of 31,872 individuals. 44 studies had a women-only sample, 12 studies had a men-only sample, and 22 included both men and women undergoing medically assisted reproduction. The studies looked at various dimensions of sexual well-being—like sexual desire, satisfaction, function, and emotional distress. The review also looked for studies that included LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse participants, and those that evaluated psychological or relationship-based interventions.
Photo by Claudia Love on Unsplash
What did we find?
The review revealed several significant implications of medically assisted reproduction for sexual well-being:
- Sexual problems are common: Between 7% and 77% of women and 7% and 54% of men reported sexual difficulties such as low desire, pain during sex, difficulty with orgasm, or erectile issues.
- Treatment can strain intimacy: Couples often described their sex lives as mechanical or stressful, timed around ovulation, and lacking in spontaneity or pleasure.
- Problems can persist after pregnancy: Even after successful conception through MAR, many individuals continued to report lower sexual satisfaction than those who conceived naturally.
- A wide range of factors are involved: Emotional distress, negative body image, anxiety, depression, partner conflict, and the length or type of infertility were all linked to lower sexual well-being.
- Critical gaps remain: No reviewed studies focused specifically on LGBTQ+ or gender-diverse individuals.
- Some interventions show promise: A small number of studies found that psychological or couple-based interventions can improve sexual well-being—especially for women—but more research is needed.
What does this mean & why does it matter?
Sexual well-being is deeply affected by fertility struggles and their treatment. For many people, sex becomes less about connection and more about performance and timing. The emotional and psychological toll can last even after treatment ends or pregnancy is achieved. These findings emphasize that sexual well-being is not a separate issue—it is intimately connected to the overall experience of infertility.
Sexuality is a key part of personal identity, emotional health, and intimate relationships. Yet, it is rarely addressed in fertility care. This review shows that ignoring sexual well-being leaves a major gap in how we support people through one of the most challenging life experiences.
To offer truly holistic care, fertility clinics and healthcare providers should:
- Routinely assess sexual well-being during and after treatment.
- Offer referrals to psychological or couple-based support when needed.
- Include LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse perspectives in both research and care practices.
Medically assisted reproduction is about more than making babies—it’s about supporting people. That includes helping them preserve not just their hope for a family, but their sense of intimacy, confidence, and connection along the way.
References
[1] Péloquin, K., Beauvilliers, L., Benoît, Z., Brassard, A. & Rosen, N. O. (2024). Sexual well-being among individuals undergoing medically assisted reproduction. A review of recent literature. Current Sexual Health Reports, 16, 66-106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-024-00384-3
