Not knowing what to expect and fearing the worst, men scheduled to visit an infertility clinic will sometimes cancel their appointment. However, new research by German investigators indicates that a simple information leaflet, mailed to the men in advance, can allay their concerns, making cancelation less likely.

Dr. Martin Pook, at the University of Siegen and Dr. Walter Krause at Philipps-University of Marburg designed a two-page leaflet describing the different components of a fertility check-up, including questions that the doctor would ask.

The leaflet described the examination process in detail, including ultrasound of the testes and a semen analysis, and gave reassurance that there would be no time pressure for obtaining a semen specimen, which would take place in complete privacy.

Moreover, the leaflet explicitly stated that no invasive procedure other than possibly taking blood would be performed.

As reported in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, 250 male patients who were first-time visitors to the fertility clinic were included in the study. Half of them received copies of the leaflet mailed approximately two weeks before the visit.

When tested with a standard questionnaire, men given the leaflet showed much less stress than their peers. In addition, 12 men in the comparison group skipped their appointment compared with just 4 men in the leaflet group.

The authors calculate that 16 men would need to receive the leaflet in advance in order to prevent one from skipping the appointment.

“It is to be hoped that the success of the present study will encourage the development and evaluation of alternative forms of support for infertility patients,” Pook and Krause conclude.

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SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, January 2005.