Depression and anxiety among Polish infertile couples--an evaluative prevalence study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of infertility on the severity of anxiety and depression in infertile couples.

This was a cross-sectional study of differences between infertile couples (206 women and 188 men) and fertile couples (n = 190) with symptoms of depression and anxiety, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory.

Infertile women (35.44%) scored above the cut-off for severe symptoms of depression, compared with 19.47% of fertile women. In the case of anxiety evaluation there was significant total prevalence among infertile women (15.53%). In the male groups there was a comparable frequency of negative results for depression and anxiety and their intensity. Among Female Infertile, depression occurred most frequently in combined infertility, whilst among Male Infertile in male infertility, with a time-frame of 3-6 years causing the creation and severity of depressive symptoms.

The risk factors of depression and anxiety in infertility include: female sex, age over 30, lower level of education, lack of occupational activity, diagnosed male infertility and infertility duration of 3-6 years.