[Mental health status of infertility patients with varicocele].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the mental health status of infertility patients with varicocele and its relationship with infertility. METHODS: Using Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD), we assessed the psychological status of 110 infertility patients with varicocele, identified the risk factors of anxiety and depression in these patients, and analyzed the correlation among psychological and other relevant factors. Meanwhile, we recruited 61 age-matched normal fertile men as controls for comparative analysis. We also conducted logistic regression analysis on the mental health status of the 106 infertility patients with varicocele. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of anxiety were 61.32% and 13.79%, while those of depression 37.73% and 6.90% in the infertile patients and normal fertile controls, respectively, significantly higher in the former than in the latter (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the main risk factors of anxiety and depression of the infertile patients were the number of times they sought medical care and the severity of their testis disorders. CONCLUSION: Infertility patients with varicocele have psychological disorders, which are particularly associated with the frequency of the patients' clinic visit and the severity of their testis disorders.