Thesis (Ph. D.)--Bob Jones University, 1992. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 311-317).

Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2001. / Bibliography: leaves 141-152.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Objective: To determine whether serum phthalate concentrations differ in men and women with infertility compared to those without infertility in Saskatchewan Hypothesis: Serum phthalate concentrations will be greater in men and women with infertility compared to fertile men and women Setting: Patients undergoing assisted reproduction for the treatment of infertility; healthy volunteers recruited from the community Recruitment and sample collection: Infertile couples were recruited prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy for treatment of unexplained infertility (n=15), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS, n=13), and male factor infertility (n=12); fertile men (n=15) and women (n=15) were recruited using poster advertisements. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture for phthalate analysis. Main outcome measures: Serum phthalates concentrations (ng/mL) Design: Prospective cohort pilot study Methods: In infertile couples, blood samples were collected on the following 3 days of the IVF cycle: early during ovarian stimulation, day of oocyte retrieval and day of embryo transfer. In healthy volunteers, 3 blood samples were collected over a 2 week period. Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was conducted to quantify concentrations of four phthalates: di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP). Phthalate concentrations were compared among the four study groups using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U post hoc tests. Results: Serum DEHP and DEP concentrations did not differ among control, unexplained, PCOS, and male factor infertility groups in both men and women (p>0.05). DBP in women did not differ among study groups (p=0.205). In contrast, DBP was lesser in men with unexplained, PCOS, and male factor infertility compared to controls (p < 0.05). Similarly, DIDP was lesser in women of couples with unexplained, PCOS and male factor infertility groups compared to fertile women (p < 0.05). Less DIDP was detected in men with unexplained and male factor infertility compared to the control group (p < 0.05) Conclusion: Serum phthalate concentrations in serum were lesser or not different in infertility patients undergoing IVF compared to fertile volunteers. These findings do not support the notion that serum phthalate concentrations are associated with human infertility. Further research is needed to determine whether phthalate concentration in blood cells and adipose tissue differ in infertile versus fertile men and women.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [161]-180).

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that approximately 6.7 million or 10.9% of women in the United States, between the ages of 15 and 44 have difficulty getting or remaining pregnant and of these women 6% are considered infertile (CDC, 2012). Infertility is defined as twelve months of regular, 2015 Appalachian Student Research Forum Page 53 unprotected intercourse yielding no pregnancy. Research suggests the experience of infertility has been associated with negative psychological outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Even more problematic is that infertility can persist for an extended period of time and have long-lasting effects on psychological distress in those who remain unable to have children. Given the negative psychological outcomes experienced by those struggling with infertility, uncovering why and how these outcomes evolve for women with infertility may simultaneously reveal points of intervention to improve outcomes. The present study is premised on the idea that examining infertility in the context of stigma may provide an explanation for the increased psychological distress reported by women experiencing infertility. In the present study, we examined stigma as a framework for understanding the negative psychological outcomes for women who experience infertility. More specifically, we examined the relationship between stigma (public and internalized stigma) and psychological distress and the mediational role of self-esteem and partner satisfaction. The sample consisted of women experiencing infertility (N > 100) who completed an online survey titled “Survey on Women’s Experience with Infertility”. The average woman in the study was 33 years of age (M = 32.8, SD = 6.74), reported being married (70%), and was Caucasian/White (86.6%) and college educated. On average, women in the study had been trying to conceive for almost three years (M= 32.71 months, SD = 12.87). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the hypothesized relationships between public stigma, internalized stigma, self-esteem, partner satisfaction, and psychological distress. Overall the mediational model was supported, which suggests the relationship between public stigma and psychological distress may be partly explained by internalized stigma, selfesteem, and partner satisfaction. The results provide initial support for a stigma framework as an explanation for the negative psychological outcomes experienced by women struggling with infertility.

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