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Coping style and depression level influence outcome in in vitro fertilization
K Demyttenaere1, L Bonte, M Gheldof
1Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven University Fertility Center, Belgium.
Fertility and Sterility
|June 17, 1998
Summary
Depression impacts in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Negative emotions correlated with lower pregnancy rates in women with female infertility, but higher rates in those with male infertility.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive medicine
- Psychology
- Clinical research
Background:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex treatment for infertility.
- Psychological factors, including depression and coping mechanisms, may influence IVF success.
- The cause of infertility might modulate the relationship between psychological state and treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how depression levels and coping strategies affect IVF outcomes.
- To determine if the cause of infertility (male vs. female factor) influences this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Prospective clinical study involving 98 women undergoing IVF at a university hospital.
- Psychometric tests administered during the treatment cycle.
- Pregnancy achievement was the primary outcome measure.
Main Results:
- Women who did not achieve pregnancy reported higher levels of negative emotions.
- In women with female-factor infertility, higher depressive symptoms correlated with lower pregnancy rates.
- In women with male-factor infertility, higher depressive symptoms correlated with higher pregnancy rates.
Conclusions:
- The expression of negative emotions is a predictor of depression levels and IVF outcomes.
- The cause of infertility is a critical factor to consider when examining the link between psychological functioning and IVF success.