The assessment of educational and supportive care to the infertile females undergoes In Vitro Fertilization procedure by clinical pharmacist: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background Infertility affects approximately 10-15% of married individuals, and may trigger various emotional reactions. Females undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) are more susceptible to experiencing depression. This study aims to assess the influence of pharmacist counseling on quality of life, depression scores, and pregnancy rates among infertile females undergoing IVF treatment. Method The research examined women who visited the infertility clinic at Kamal Al-Samaraie Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq to achieve pregnancy. These individuals were separated into a control group and an intervention group. The intervention group received an educational program consisting of five visits, while the control group got a conventional hospital procedure. The present research evaluated the quality of life-related to fertility using the FertiQoL (Fertility Quality of Life) questionnaire. It examined the participants’ depression levels using the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression) scale. These assessments were conducted at the commencement and conclusion of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. Results The present research included 150 women diagnosed with infertility, whose average age was 30.32 ± 5.64 years. The participants had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.12 ± 3.57. No statistically significant difference was seen in the FertiQoL evaluation scores between the control and intervention groups at the beginning of the study. The FertiQoL, assessed at the end of the trial, exhibited a statistically significant increase in the interventional group, with a P-value of 0.025. The prevalence of Depression risk patients decreased from 83% to 69%, and the interventional group exhibited a substantially greater proportion of favorable pregnancy outcomes (48%) compared to the control group (29.3%). Conclusion Infertile women who undergo IVF operations have higher rates of depression. Depression may be reduced, and quality of life improved with education and supportive counseling. Pregnancy rates rise as a result of clinical pharmacist counseling. Trial registration This study was registered on Clinical Trials.gov (NCT06022640).