Distress level in men undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection versus in-vitro fertilization

Area of Science:

• Reproductive medicine
• Psychology
• Men's health

Background:

• Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are common infertility treatments.
• The psychological impact of ART on men is an important consideration in fertility care.
• Understanding potential differences in psychological responses between ICSI and IVF is crucial for tailored patient support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the daily psychological reactions of men undergoing ICSI versus IVF.
• To identify any specific phases of treatment where psychological distress may differ between these two ART methods.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 18 men undergoing ICSI and 22 men undergoing IVF.
• Daily monitoring of psychological reactions throughout one complete ART treatment cycle (approx. 52 days).
• Data collection from the start of down-regulation until the treatment outcome was determined.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in psychological reactions were observed between ICSI and IVF groups throughout most of the treatment cycle.
• ICSI patients reported marginally higher levels of distress on the days preceding egg retrieval compared to IVF patients.
• This heightened distress in ICSI patients appeared to be related to anticipatory anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Psychological management strategies for men undergoing ICSI and IVF can largely be similar.
• Men undergoing ICSI may benefit from additional psychological support and reassurance specifically in the days leading up to egg retrieval.
• Further research could explore the specific factors contributing to anticipatory anxiety in ICSI patients.