The prevalence of eating disorders in infertile women

To determine the prevalence of eating disorders in a sample of infertile women.

A descriptive comparative two-group design in which collected data were compared with a published community sample.

Private infertility center.

Eighty-two participants beginning their first gonadotropin/intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment cycle completed self-report measures that assessed eating disorder pathology and exercise habits. Each subject was telephone-administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) Module H (Eating Disorders) and a demographic questionnaire.

None.

Past or current diagnosis of an eating disorder.

Seventeen participants (20.7%) met criteria for a past or current eating disorder, which is five times higher than the U.S. lifetime prevalence rate. None of the participants who met the criteria for an eating disorder had disclosed their past or current diagnosis to their reproductive endocrinologist.

Infertility clinics are likely to be treating women with a past or current eating disorder history. Therefore, an eating disorder screening tool should be included in the initial intake, because these patients may be at a higher risk for negative maternal and fetal outcomes than non-eating disorder patients. Additionally, patients with a past or current eating disorder may not disclose this information to reproductive health care providers, which may limit providers' ability to provide appropriate medical and psychologic referrals.