A comparison of psychological functioning in women at different stages of in vitro fertilization treatment using the mean affect adjective check list

Purpose: The objectives were to identify the stage/s of IVF treatment where a woman is most vulnerable to psychological stress, and to assess the Mean Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) as a measure of psychological function ing during IVF treatment, which has hitherto not been reported. Methods: Thirty-seven women undergoing IVF treatment according to the long protocol of controlled ovarian stimulation completed the MAACL questionnnir e at the following stages: (a) before treatment (visit 1), (b) before embry o transfer (visit 2), and (c) before pregnancy test (visit 3). Results: Apart from anxiety scores for visit 2, the hostility, depression, and slate anxiety scores far visit 3 were higher than the corresponding sco res for visits 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). Anxiety scores for visits 2 and 3 were similar. Conclusions: Psychological counseling should be targeted at women after emb ryo transfer and lending up to the pregnancy test. The MAACL is a useful me thod for measuring psychological stress in women during IVF treatment.