Loneliness during the Pregnancy-Seeking Process: Exploring the Role of Medically Assisted Reproduction

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Social Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Medically assisted reproduction (MAR) involves complex emotional and social challenges.
• Infertility and its treatments can lead to feelings of isolation and stigma.
• Understanding the psychosocial impact of MAR is crucial for patient support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between medically assisted reproduction (MAR) and loneliness.
• To examine if this association differs by gender and live birth outcomes.
• To explore the impact of conception mode on social and emotional loneliness.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two waves of the Generations and Gender Survey (n = 2,725).
• Focused on individuals in heterosexual relationships seeking pregnancy.
• Estimated changes in loneliness levels, controlling for sociodemographic factors.

Main Results:

• Individuals undergoing MAR reported increased social loneliness compared to spontaneous conception.
• This association was significant only for those without a live birth.
• No gender differences were observed in social or emotional loneliness.

Conclusions:

• MAR is associated with increased social loneliness, particularly when unsuccessful.
• Infertility-related stress and social stigma may contribute to this loneliness.
• Targeted support addressing social isolation is needed for MAR patients.