Perceived stress reduction through an infertility coaching program: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Psychology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Infertility affects couples globally, causing significant distress.
• Women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART) experience heightened stress levels.
• Existing counseling methods may not fully address the psychological burden of infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a structured stress management program delivered by an infertility coach on perceived stress in women undergoing ART.
• To evaluate the program's effect on key stages of fertility treatment, including oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer, and pregnancy testing.
• To determine if the intervention improves ART outcomes such as oocyte count and pregnancy rates.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 60 infertile women undergoing ART.
• Participants were allocated to either an intervention group (infertility coach program) or a control group (routine counseling).
• The Newton Infertility Stress Questionnaire measured stress levels at baseline and post-intervention (oocyte puncture, embryo transfer, pregnancy test).

Main Results:

• The infertility coach intervention group showed a significant reduction in perceived stress compared to the control group (P < 0.001).
• Stress levels increased in the control group throughout the measurement points.
• Significant reductions in stress were observed in the intervention group, particularly around embryo transfer and pregnancy testing (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• A structured infertility coaching program is effective in decreasing perceived stress among women undergoing fertility treatments.
• The program holds potential for enhancing clinical outcomes in assisted reproductive techniques.
• This approach offers a valuable adjunct to standard fertility care, addressing the psychological well-being of patients.