P. Yong et al., A comparison of psychological functioning in women at different stages of in vitro fertilization treatment using the mean affect adjective check list, J AS REPROD, 17(10), 2000, pp. 553-556
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.