Most research on infertility has not examined the psychological effect of the medical process over time. This study explored the marital happiness, state/trait anxiety, coping techniques, and types of support received for a national sample of men and women. The study supports the life crisis model for the subgroup of people with infertility who are White, middleto upper-class, well educated, and joiners of support groups. There were significant differences by gender for seeking social support, escape/avoidance, nondirective guidance, and positive social interaction and stage of medical treatment for marital happiness, state anxiety, self-control, and accepting responsibility. Counselors should be aware that medical treatment affects the distress level of the individual and couple and the types of coping used. Further implications for counselors are also discussed.
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