Fertility treatment after sexual trauma

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Psychology
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Fertility treatments can be psychologically distressing for survivors of sexual trauma.
• Understanding patient experiences is crucial for providing sensitive care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences, needs, and preferences of women with a history of sexual trauma undergoing fertility treatment.
• To identify preferred methods for screening sexual violence history and significant treatment triggers.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to women with a history of sexual violence undergoing fertility treatment.
• Participants indicated preferred screening tools and rated the intensity of various fertility treatment triggers.

Main Results:

• 155 women responded; intake forms were the preferred screening method for sexual violence history (63%).
• High-intensity triggers included arm/leg fixation during egg retrieval (66.2%/66.8%).
• Most women (59%) preferred female physicians but accepted any physician trained in trauma-informed care.

Conclusions:

• While not all triggers can be eliminated, discussing potential triggers with patients is vital.
• Trauma-informed care and appropriate screening are essential for supporting survivors of sexual trauma during fertility treatments.