Brief cognitive behavioral intervention in groups in a Brazilian assisted reproduction program

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Infertility affects a significant portion of the population seeking assisted reproductive technologies.
• Stress and anxiety are common psychological responses in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
• The impact of psychological interventions on the success rates of IVF/ICSI is an area of ongoing research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group intervention on pregnancy rates.
• To determine if psychological support prior to IVF/ICSI procedures influences treatment outcomes.
• To assess the impact of stress management on assisted reproduction success.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 188 patients undergoing IVF or ICSI.
• A group of 93 patients received psychological intervention before procedures.
• A control group of 95 patients did not receive the intervention.

Main Results:

• The intervention group achieved a 39.8% clinical pregnancy rate.
• The control group achieved a 23.2% clinical pregnancy rate.
• The difference was statistically significant (p = .01), with an odds ratio of 2.2 (CI: 1.16-4.13).

Conclusions:

• Group psychological intervention before IVF/ICSI appears to increase pregnancy rates.
• Stress control through psychological intervention may be a key factor in improving IVF/ICSI success.
• This intervention shows promise as an adjunct to fertility treatments.