BACKGROUND Sexuality has a key impact on quality of life and on reproductive health. Infertility often results in sexual dysfunction. Despite this close association, addressing sexuality is not a standard component of infertility counselling, especially since in most countries sexual medicine is not a core element of specialist training. Even today, many doctors and patients consider discussing sexuality to be more challenging than other aspects of reproductive medicine. The present review addresses the complex consequences of infertility on sexuality. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Our goals were: (i) to identify the prevalence of sexual problems resulting from infertility, (ii) to evaluate characteristics of sexual difficulties and disorders resulting from infertility and (iii) to analyse factors involved in the complex association between sexual problems and infertility. SEARCH METHODS A systematic search for publications containing keywords related to sexual disorders and infertility was performed via PubMed, Web of Science and Psyndex. A total of 170 manuscripts published between January 1966 and April 2021 were identified after verification of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The reference lists in these manuscripts were searched for further relevant literature. Studies were reviewed for quality-related methodological details. OUTCOMES Couples diagnosed with infertility have an increased risk of sexual disorders. Loss of sexual desire and erectile dysfunction are among the most frequent sexual disorders resulting from infertility. Currently available literature reflects only fragmentarily the complexity of the diverse interactions. Sexuality plays out against the backdrop of interactions among personal, cultural, infertility-related and sexuality-related factors. Considering this complexity, it is crucial to evaluate individual profiles as well as partnership interactions to avoid a negative impact of infertility on a couple’s sexual life. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Identifying sexual disorders as relevant considerations in the context of infertility and exploring their impact during the entire course of diagnosis and treatment constitute an important contribution to comprehensively care for the couples concerned. Counselling should focus on preventing the onset and aggravation of sexual disorders. As sexuality represents a major component of quality of life and of partnership, such support may improve not only the current overall wellbeing but also the chances of a satisfactory long-term partnership and family life.

中文翻译：

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不孕症导致的性功能障碍和障碍：系统评价和荟萃分析

背景技术性行为对生活质量和生殖健康具有重要影响。不孕通常会导致性功能障碍。尽管有这种密切联系，但解决性问题并不是不孕症咨询的标准组成部分，尤其是因为在大多数国家，性医学并不是专科培训的核心要素。即使在今天，许多医生和患者仍认为讨论性问题比讨论生殖医学的其他方面更具挑战性。本综述探讨了不孕症对性行为的复杂影响。目标和基本原理 我们的目标是：(i) 确定由不孕症引起的性问题的普遍性，(ii) 评估由不孕症引起的性困难和障碍的特征，以及 (iii) 分析涉及性问题和不孕症之间复杂关联的因素。搜索方法 通过 PubMed、Web of Science 和 Psyndex 系统地搜索包含与性障碍和不孕症相关的关键字的出版物。在验证纳入和排除标准后，共确定了 1966 年 1 月至 2021 年 4 月期间发表的 170 篇手稿。在这些手稿中的参考文献列表中搜索了更多相关文献。审查了与质量相关的方法学细节的研究。结果 被诊断患有不育症的夫妇患性功能障碍的风险增加。性欲减退和勃起功能障碍是不孕症导致的最常见的性障碍。目前可用的文献仅零碎地反映了不同相互作用的复杂性。性行为在个人、文化、不孕不育相关因素和性行为相关因素相互作用的背景下发挥作用。考虑到这种复杂性，评估个人概况以及伙伴关系互动以避免不孕症对夫妻性生活的负面影响至关重要。更广泛的意义 将性障碍确定为不孕不育的相关考虑因素，并探索其在整个诊断和治疗过程中的影响，对全面照顾相关夫妇具有重要意义。咨询应侧重于预防性功能障碍的发作和加重。由于性是生活质量和伴侣关系的重要组成部分，这种支持不仅可以改善当前的整体幸福感，还可以改善长期伴侣关系和家庭生活。