Symptoms of anxiety and depression in lesbian couples treated with donated sperm: a descriptive study

Objective To investigate symptoms of anxiety and depression in lesbian couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatment ( ART ), and to study the relationship of demographic data, pregnancy outcome and future reproductive plans with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Design Descriptive, a part of the prospective longitudinal ‘ S wedish study on gamete donation’. Setting All university clinics in S weden performing gamete donation. Population A consecutive sample of 214 lesbian couples requesting assisted reproduction, 165 of whom participated. Methods Participants individually completed three study‐specific questionnaires and the H ospital A nxiety and D epression S cale ( HADS ): time point 1 (T1), at commencement of ART ; time point 2 (T2), approximately 2 months after treatment; and time point 3 (T3), 2–5 years after first treatment. Main outcome measures Anxiety and depression ( HADS ), pregnancy outcome and future reproductive plans. Results The vast majority of lesbian women undergoing assisted reproduction reported no symptoms of anxiety and depression at the three assessment points. A higher percentage of the treated women, compared with the partners, reported symptoms of anxiety at T2 (14% versus 5%, P  = 0.011) and T3 (10% versus 4%, P  = 0.018), as well as symptoms of depression at T2 (4% versus 0%, P  = 0.03) and T3 (3% versus 0%, P  = 0.035). The overall pregnancy outcome was high; almost three‐quarters of lesbian couples gave birth 2–5 years after sperm donation treatments. Open‐ended comments illustrated joy and satisfaction about family building. Conclusion Lesbian women in S weden reported good psychological health before and after treatment with donated sperm.