Stress reduction in male infertility patients: a randomized, controlled trial

Objective: To assess the impact of preparatory information about the fertility workup on the patients' well-being. Design: Two-group, randomized controlled study. Setting: An andrology clinic. Patient(s): Two hundred fifty men enrolled for fertility workup. Intervention(s): A two-page leaflet with preparatory informatin about the fertility workup, which was mailed to half of the participants after they had made an appointment. Main Outcome Measure(s): Questionnaire score for infertility-related distress at clinic attendance, proportion of participants that still had not attended 6 months after the scheduled appointment. Result(s): Distress scores and the proportion of nonattendees were significantly reduced in the group receiving the leaflet. An additional analysis revealed that 55% of the receivers did not know that the andrology clinic has its own web site, which was mentioned in the leaflet several times. Conclusion(s): Although it is uncertain how many patients actually read a routinely sent leaflet, preparatory information in written form is beneficial, at least for a significant subgroup of men who consider undergoing fertility workup. Fertility services might reduce the number of nonattendees by sending out leaflets. (C)2005 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.