Infertile couples who undergo ART generally report high satisfaction
with their intimate partnerships (Hammarberg et al., 2001;
Schmidt et al., 2005; Sydsjo¨ et al., 2005). This might be a selection
effect in which well-adjusted couples with equal commitment to
parenthood are more likely to initiate and persist with ART treatment
(Edelmann et al., 1994). The birth of a baby imposes
increased demands on this relationship and post-partum decline
in marital satisfaction is common (Cox et al., 1999). There are
10 investigations of whether this also occurs after the birth of
ART infants