Psychosocial experiences in women facing fertility problems - a comparative survey

In a survey involving 281 patients awaiting assisted reproduction treatment at five centres in three countries, and 289 population controls, we invest igated whether the patients had experienced more negative emotional feeling s and negative emotional impact during periods when they were attempting to conceive as compared with the controls, and whether there was any differen ce in their well-being at the time of consultation. The study was performed in the context of currently divergent views as to the burden of fertility problems, The survey was carried out using questionnaires of the self-admin istration type. Women with fertility problems did in fact consistently repo rt a higher prevalence of negative emotions than the controls with referenc e to the periods during which they had been trying to conceive. Patients re ported more changes in interpartner relationships (either negative or posit ive). Sexuality was negatively affected among the patients, At the time of consultation, the patients had less favourable scores than the controls on scales for depressed mood, memory/concentration, anxiety and fears, as well as for self-perceived attractiveness. One in four (24.9%) of the patients had scores indicating depressive disorders as compared with only 6.8% of th e controls. Current well-being was even more markedly affected in patients with previous unsuccessful in-vitro fertilization (IVF) experience. The 'in fertility' life event was perceived as severe by both patients and controls . Both prior to consultation and during diagnosis and treatment, women with fertility problems had a higher prevalence of reported negative psyche-emo tional experiences than women without fertility problems.