Volume 27, Issue 134, April 2023

Perception of poor prognosis and psychological impact on the infertile couples who stop IVF therapy: Cross sectional scientific perspective

Rawan Ahmad Alhazmi¹, Mahdya Bukhari²

¹Senior Registrar, Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Abdulah Medical Complex, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
²Senior Registrar, Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

The goal of this study is to examine the mental health of infertile men and women who’s in-vitro-fertilization-(IVF) treatment halted or delayed due to the perception of poor prognosis. Materials and methods: Couples whose IVF procedures stopped or delayed because of the perception of poor prognosis sent an internet survey between June and August 2022. The Generalized-Anxiety-Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient-Health Questionnaire-9 were used to measure the presence and severity of symptoms indicative of anxiety and/or depression (PHQ-9). Subjects with prior psychiatric illnesses were not allowed to participate. Informed consent and IRB approval (# 9690/3/KB11). Results: In all, 524 of the 646 patients who took the survey did so. Women were considerably more likely to experience anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, especially if they were older than 35 and had previously tried IVF. The incidence of these psychological symptoms was substantially correlated with the amount of time spent each day reading news about perception of poor prognosis, with evidence of a psychiatric condition and in females, with a diagnosis of endometriosis, uterine fibroids or low ovarian reserve. Conclusions: The perception of poor prognosis has had a profound psychological impact on the infertile couples who should have received IVF therapy. IVF clinics must to routinely provide these couples with sufficient psychological therapy to enhance mental wellness.

Keywords: Perception, Poor Prognosis, Psychological Impact, Infertile Couples, IVF Therapy

Medical Science, 2023, 27, e184ms2933

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v27i134/e184ms2933

Published: 06 April 2023