Psychopathology, personality, and marital relationship in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures

Objective: To compare the psychopathology, personality features, and marita l relationships of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with those of control patients, and to compare IVF inductees with program veterans. Design: Cross-sectional clinical study. Setting: A university hospital. Patient(s): One hundred and one women undergoing IVF treatment. Intervention(s): Psychometric tests were administered at first visit (basel ine) of index treatment cycle. Main Outcome Measure(s): Achievement of pregnancy. Result(s): Women undergoing IVF show higher levels of anxiety and emotional tension than do controls. Although the infertile women showed no abnormal personality dimensions, the IVF group did have a particular psychological p rofile and a different marital relationship pattern when compared with the control participants. Between IVF veterans and inductees, there are signifi cant differences with respect to psychopathology, psychological dimensions, and couple dynamics. The achievement of pregnancy is not associated with a ny special psychopathological, personality, or marital characteristics amon g the IVF women. Conclusion(s): The most crucial period in IVF procedures may immediately fo llow the end of the first cycle because of the high risk of patients droppi ng out of the program. To determine the most effective supporting therapies for women undergoing fertilization procedures it could be useful to consid er the psychological and relational differences between veterans and induct ees. (Fertil Steril(R) 2001;75:1119-25. (C)2001 by American Society for Rep roductive Medicine.).