In the present study we have investigated possible relationships between semen quality and psychological conditions related to stress and anxiety among in vitro fertilization patients of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Biology, European Hospital, Rome.

To this end, a pool of 109 volunteer patients was analyzed for a series of parameters of semen quality that include: semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation.

At the time of semen collection, patients’ anxiety and psychological stress was investigated by administering questionnaires for: state anxiety (STAI 1), trait anxiety (STAI 2) and self perceived impact of their physical disturbance on everyday activities (WAS). Approximately half of the patients were at their first IVF attempt.

Since knowledge of the patients’ impaired physical condition might influence their anxiety responses, we have first compared state and trait anxiety of patients at the first or a subsequent attempt.

In contrast to previous studies that were focused on the comparison of biological semen parameters and state anxiety, we specifically studied the relations between trait anxiety and fertility. Results of our investigation will be discussed.