JBRA Assisted Reproduction 2025;29(Suppl.2 SBRA 2025):108
Poster Presentation
29^th Annual Congress of the SBRA. São Paulo/SP - Brazil, 2025
doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20263724

P-96. Fatherhood beyond genetics: The inclusion of third parties

Helena Prado Lopes¹, Valeria Teixeira Batista², Valeria Macedo Teixeira²

¹ Grupo Pró-Fértil Medicina Reprodutiva - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brasil
² Perfetto Reprodução Humana - Goiania - GO - Brasil

Objective: This study aimed to understand and analyze the emotional challenges faced by men diagnosed with infertility, as well as explore the psychological implications of fatherhood through gamete donation, highlighting the couple's dynamics and the bond with their children. We also hope it contributes to helping professionals working in this context to reflect on and respect each individual's processing and integration of infertility and, subsequently, their experience of fatherhood.
Methods: This is a qualitative study based on an integrative literature review, with scientific articles obtained from databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and APA PsycInfo^®. Inclusion criteria encompassed: Studies published in the last five years (2018–2024) in Portuguese or English; Topics related to male infertility (Gameiro et al., 2008; Biggs et al., 2024; Harlow et al., 2020), assisted reproductive technologies (ART) (Cadore Sonego & Lopes, 2016; Lopes et al., 2010), and psychological aspects of sperm donation (emotional and relational impacts; Fernandes et al., 2023). Qualitative studies highlight the social and identity-related impact of male infertility, emphasizing the need for specialized psychological care (Vererman-Verwelj et al., 2024). A recent meta-analysis documented the prevalence of anxiety among infertile men (Simbar et al., 2024), reinforcing the importance of psychological assessment in healthcare systems for men receiving donor gametes. The search used the terms "male infertility", "psychological impacts", and "social impacts" in the PubMed and SciELO databases. The analysis employed a non-systematic, exploratory narrative approach, based on a critical synthesis of selected articles according to predefined criteria.
Results: The results indicated that infertile men often experience feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and grief, associated with virility stereotypes. Sperm donation emerged as a viable alternative, with most fathers reporting satisfaction with their decision and positive relationships with their children, regardless of genetic ties. Male infertility is not just a physical issue; it has emotional and psychological implications. Infertile men may suffer in silence, and psychological stress can negatively affect sperm quality, pregnancy outcomes, and overall quality of life. Furthermore, feelings of stigmatization and loneliness may be exacerbated by social expectations surrounding masculinity and parenthood. The literature review demonstrated that the association between depression and sexual function was more significant among infertile men compared to their fertile peers.
Conclusion: From the perspective of social imagination, virility, sexual potency, and fertility are intrinsically linked to masculinity and, consequently, to narcissism. Male infertility and fatherhood through sperm donation involve significant emotional challenges, requiring psychological support for men in this context. This social construct, which ties male identity to strength and virility, ends up masking or rendering invisible the suffering of men facing an infertility diagnosis. Mental health professionals should direct their interventions toward acceptance of the diagnosis, the implications of using donor gametes, and the decision about disclosure, promoting healthy adaptations to new family configurations. Giving men a voice reveals the importance of considering each individual's unique journey, especially when designing interventions for men experiencing this situation. The complex process of becoming a father in the context of assisted reproduction involves psychological transformations, ranging from an infertile identity to the acceptance of a new condition, now as fertile, culminating in the exercise of fatherhood. Therefore, when working with infertile men who require gamete donation, mental health professionals should consider the emotional factor and provide interdisciplinary care that addresses both physical concerns and psychological and social repercussions.