Open AccessTreatment‐related psychological stress in different in vitro fertilization therapies with and without gonadotropin stimulation
Author(s) -
Haemmerli Keller Katja,
Alder Gilliane,
Loewer Lennard,
Faeh Monika,
Rohner Susanne,
von Wolff Michael
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/aogs.13281
Subject(s) - medicine , in vitro fertilisation , stimulation , gonadotropin , human fertilization , andrology , gynecology , pregnancy , hormone , biology , genetics , anatomy
Infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) impose substantial distress. However, the specific role of individual contributory factors remains unclear. We therefore compared treatment‐related psychological stress in IVF treatments with ( cIVF ) and without ( NC ‐ IVF ) gonadotropin stimulation, as cIVF includes potentially stressful factors such as ovarian stimulation, anesthesia, embryo selection and cryopreservation, whereas NC ‐ IVF does not. Material and methods Women were offered to have cIVF or NC ‐ IVF . Validated psychological questionnaires filled in online before, during and after completed treatment cycle(s) at home were used to analyze psychological distress and treatment‐related satisfaction and quality of life. To avoid different pregnancy rates in the two treatment groups, one cIVF was compared with three NC ‐ IVF therapies, resulting in the same cumulative pregnancy rate. Results Data from 57 NC ‐ IVF and 62 cIVF patients were evaluated. NC ‐ IVF resulted in a similar overall clinical pregnancy rate than one cIVF . NC ‐ IVF patients had a significantly lower level of depression ( CES ‐D, 13.4 vs. 15.7, p < 0.05) and a higher satisfaction with the treatment (Treatment FertiQoL, 67.9 vs. 62.9, p < 0.05) compared with cIVF patients. The level of psychological distress increased during c‐ IVF treatment and decreased during NC ‐ IVF treatment. In contrast, during NC ‐ IVF treatment there was a significant increase in satisfaction with the treatment, whereas satisfaction with treatment in the cIVF patients decreased. Conclusions Factors other than just pregnancy rate seem to have an impact on psychological stress in IVF treatment. Due to reduced psychological stress in NC ‐ IVF , this treatment could be especially considered in psychologically stressed women.