Infertility, attachment, identity and sexual function of females: a correlational study

Background: Infertility is one of the major problems in reproductive health. This research was carried out to evaluate the relationship between infertility, attachment, identity, sexual function, and sexual self-esteem in married women. Methods: In this causal-comparative and correlational study, 300 voluntary married women (fertile=150, infertile=150) in Mashhad were selected through random sampling in 2019. Collins and Read’s Revised Adult Attachment Scale, Identity Style Inventory, Female Sexual Function Index, and Sexual Self-Esteem Index for Women-Short Form were used to gather data. Data were analyzed using a t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and regression analysis with SPSS-24 software(p<0.05). Results:  There was a significant difference between sexual function and sexual self-esteem of the fertile and infertile women (P=0.000). Also, the results demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between a sexual function with attachment styles and identity status in women. There was a significant relationship between sexual self-esteem and the status of identity (all p<0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that infertility can have a significant impact on sexual function. Moreover, there is a significant relationship between attachment and identity styles with sexual function and sexual self-esteem.