Effectiveness of psychological interventions on mental health, quality of life and relationship satisfaction for individuals and/or couples undergoing fertility treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Abstract

IntroductionInfertility is a global public health problem affecting men, women and couples worldwide. The medical implications of infertility are often of primary focus in healthcare settings, but the experience of infertility also has a considerable social, emotional and psychological impact. Interventions aimed at alleviating psychological symptoms in individual and/or couples undergoing fertility treatment requires a systematic and comprehensive review of the literature to determine the efficacy of psychological interventions. The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of psychological interventions for individuals and/or couples seeking fertility to treat anxiety, depression, distress, quality of life and relationship satisfaction, as well as improve pregnancy rates.Methods and analysisThe search strategy will involve 11 databases, including MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (OVID), The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) with Full Text (EBSCO), Social Work Abstracts (EBSCO), SocINDEX with Full Text (EBSCO), Academic Search Complete (EBSCO), Family & Society Studies Worldwide (EBSCO), Family Studies Abstracts (EBSCO) and Scopus. These databases will be searched from their inception to September 2019. Independent reviewers will search peer-reviewed published studies through electronic databases and additional sources, will extract the data and assess the methodological quality. Random-effects meta-analysis will be carried out by calculating effect sizes as Cohen’s d indices. Heterogeneity will be examined by the I2 and the Q statistics.Ethics and disseminationThe current review does not require ethics approval. The results will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019133757.

Life on pause: An analysis of UK fertility patients’ coping mechanisms after the cancellation of fertility treatment due to COVID-19

“…Although some respondents disclosed that they were offered an online session with their clinic’s counsellor, this was sometimes at an extra cost. Research has indicated that rates of depression and anxiety are higher amongst women struggling with infertility and that couple relationships can also be negatively impacted ( Bright et al, 2020 ). Better communication from clinics could thus have made a significant difference to the wellbeing of the fertility patients who were left waiting for treatment to resume.…”

Is social support related to better mental health, treatment continuation and success rates among individuals undergoing in-vitro fertilization? Systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

“…S2 Table lists the data items to be extracted from the studies. These items are informed by the Replication and Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs checklists, as well as other published systematic review protocols in this field [43,44]. Extracted data will include: study design, recruitment methods, sample size and key characteristics, constructs and measurement tools used for social support and the outcomes of interest.…”

“We're in this together”: Attachment insecurities, dyadic coping strategies, and relationship satisfaction in couples involved in medically assisted reproduction

“…These stressors include the uncertainty of the outcome and the intrusive and often painful treatment protocols, as well as the many losses and disappointments that can result from MAR (Quant et al, 2013). As such, individuals often experience high levels of stress following an infertility diagnosis and treatment (Benyamini et al, 2005; Luk & Loke, 2015; Paul et al, 2010), as well as adverse psychological, sexual, and relational consequences (for reviews, see Bright et al, 2020; Verhaak et al, 2007).…”