Reproductive implications of psychological distress for couples undergoing IVF

Abstract

Our data validate the concept of a "stressed couple". Adverse implications of a couple's psychological distress for gamete biology (longer duration of COH and lower FR with increasing distress) are suggested. Partner's depressive scores negatively correlated with IVF success. These findings suggest the importance of including partner's evaluation in studies that focus on effects of psychological stress on IVF outcome; future studies should examine whether interventions aimed at reducing psychological stress for the infertile couple may improve IVF cycle success.

The effects of psychosocial interventions on the mental health, pregnancy rates, and marital function of infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review

“…A systematic review has revealed that couples who underwent IVF treatment suffered from the stressful experience as dyads [45]. Also, the depression score of men has been identified as an independent predictor of a reduced likelihood of clinical pregnancy [46]. However, 13 out of the 20 (65 %) RCT studies in this review neglected the men of infertile couples.…”

An analysis of the anxiety and hopelessness levels of women during IVF‐ET treatment

“…Women who passed these stages but experienced a failure in treatment stated that they felt insufficient, empty, an absence, guilty, sad, like a failure, and deep sorrow. [29][30][31] In this study, these factors effectively promoted a high level of…”

“…The opposite statements are 1,2,5,8,21,26,27,30,33,36, and 39 on the Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI). After determine the total scores of the direct and opposite statements separately, the total weight score of the opposite statements are subtracted from the total weight score of the direct statements.…”

Infertility-related stress, anxiety and ovarian stimulation: can couples be reassured about the effects of psychological factors on biological responses to assisted reproductive technology?

“…Various studies exist highlighting the influence of both partners’ psychological variables with regard to infertility-related stress, anxiety, depression and coping, as experienced by infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment ( Benyamini et al, 2009 , Donarelli et al, 2012 , Martins et al, 2014 , Peterson et al, 2008 , Peterson et al, 2014 ); however, to our knowledge, only a few studies ( Boivin and Schmidt, 2005 , Cooper et al, 2007 , Quant et al, 2013 ) have investigated the impact of both partners’ psychological condition and infertility-related stress on assisted reproductive technology-specific outcomes. For example, in the study by Boivin and Schmidt (2005) higher overall infertility stress, as measured by the Fertility Problem Stress Inventory, in men and women, plus a prolonged period of several years of infertility, was associated with a poorer treatment outcome.…”