Open AccessEvaluation of predictor factors of psychological distress in women with unexplained infertility
Author(s) -
Ingrid Noël,
Sylvie Dodin,
Stéphanie Dufour,
Marie-Ève Bergeron,
J. Lefebvre,
Sarah Maheux-Lacroix
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
therapeutic advances in reproductive health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2633-4941
DOI - 10.1177/26334941211068010
Subject(s) - anxiety , infertility , medicine , hospital anxiety and depression scale , odds ratio , unexplained infertility , depression (economics) , population , fertility , logistic regression , confidence interval , psychiatry , distress , cross sectional study , clinical psychology , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , macroeconomics , environmental health , pathology , economics , biology
Objective: The objective of this study was to establish the frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms among women diagnosed with unexplained infertility and to identify risk factors.Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study. Forty-two women from the CHU de Quebec fertility clinic were recruited. Women completed the ‘Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale’ (HADS) self-administered questionnaire, used to estimate prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms (score ≥ 8).Results: Overall, 55% ( n = 23) of participants were identified with anxiety or depressive symptoms according to the HADS questionnaire. Anxiety symptoms were more frequent (55%) compared with depressive symptoms (10%). According to a logistic regression model, being under 35 years old [odds ratio (OR) = 16.6, confidence interval (CI): 1.9–25.0], never had a previous spontaneous abortion (OR = 5.6, CI: 1.1–43.5) and never sought fertility treatment (OR = 5.5, CI: 1.1–45.4) were associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depressive symptoms.Conclusion: Anxiety and depressive symptoms are common among women with unexplained infertility, and strategies should be developed to better support and treat this high-risk population.