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A Study on Psychological Strain in IVF Patients

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Abstract

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to compareaverage stress levels in infertile women to fertile women, todetermine the stress levels whether the patients was pregnantor not pregnant, and to examine for a cross-section ofinfertile patients in different stages of medical investigation forthe infertility.

Methods: One hundred thirty-eight women receivingmedical treatment for infertility attended the program. The StateTrait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck DepressionInventory (BDI) of perceived stress associated with theinfertility was the outcome measure.

Results: Infertile women showed significant increases intrait anxiety and depressive symptoms than the fertilewomen. Anxiety and depression in the in vitro fertilization(IVF)-failed women were significantly higher than theIVF-success women. According to the duration of infertility, STAIand BDI were moderately elevated in the first stage(< 3 year). There was a trend of a decreasing psychological stresswith an advanced infertility duration. On depression scales,the intermediate and final duration of infertility patientsshowed less symptomatology than the first-stage patients.Contrary to the expectation, demographic factors such asreligion and husband cooperation were not related to theexperience of stress.

Conclusions: We must pay an attention to the infertilepatient, especially from the initial infertility workup. Werecommend psychological counselling for IVF-failedpatients.

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SEOK KEE, B., JUNG, B.J. & LEE, S.H. A Study on Psychological Strain in IVF Patients. J Assist Reprod Genet 17, 445–448 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009417302758

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009417302758

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