Abstract Background and purpose: Infertility as a major source of stress influences numerous aspects of couples' life like sex and sexual attitude. So the aim of this study was to compare sexual attitude among fertile and infertile couples. Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study, fifty infertile couples who referred to St.Mary’s infertility center in Sari and fifty fertile couples were selected by non-random sampling method. They completed the demographic inventory and sexual attitude questionnaire. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent-sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation and Duncan test using SPSS- 16 all at significant level of P<0.05. Results: The results showed that fertile couples had more positive attitude toward sex in the behavioral aspect of sexual attitude than infertile couples. However, no any significant difference was found in sexual attitudes of fertile and infertile women and also fertile and infertile men. Either fertile or infertile, there was a positive significant between women’s sexual attitude with their partners. Neither fertile nor infertile, there was not a significant correlation between age and education with sexual attitude in women, and between age, period of marriage and job with sexual attitude in men. In addition, there was a negative significant correlation between fertile women’s sexual attitude with their period of marriage, and a positive significant correlation between men’s sexual attitude with their education on both fertile and infertile couples. Conclusion: This study indicates that sexual attitude and its cognitive and emotional aspects are not affected by infertility, however, there is a decrease in behavioral aspect of infertile couples.

Keywords: Infertility, fertile couples, infertile couples, sexual attitude

Full-Text [PDF 331 kb]   (4007 Downloads)