The role of counseling Interventions on different dimensions of Infertile Couples’ Health: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background and purpose: Infertility affects different aspects of life such as physical, psychological, social, and economic wellness, thereby leading to tension in personal and interpersonal relationships of couples. On the other hand, stress, conflicts between infertile couples, and sexual problems are among the factors that reduce marital life satisfaction. Counseling is of great benefit in identifying the couples’ problems and helps them in making the right decision. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of counseling in improving different dimenstions of health of infertile couples. Methods & Materials: A systematic review was conducted using both electronic databases and hard copy resources. Electronic databases included Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, Irandoc, Barekat, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Scopus, PubMed (Medline), and Springer using appropriate keywords. Relevant articles published between 1979 and 2016 were studied. Results: A total of 450 studies was identified of which 44 were selected after final revision. The study resulted in two classifications: primary (different methods of counselling and the effect of intervention) and secondary (type of intervention, frequency of sessions, and content of sessions) classifications. Conclusion: Counseling techniques (group consultation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and group psychotherapy) and applied methods could be helpful in changing thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. Therefore, counseling methods could be useful for the health of individuals alongside other infertility treatments.

Keywords

• infertility
• counseling interventions
• life promotion
• group counseling
• cognitive behavioral therapy
• coaching counseling