Not conceiving, and losing a pregnancy or a newborn.
Everything below was reached through this subject, not through the words you typed. Every row states how it was reached.
Research library, full list
401 to 425 of 627'Either stay grieving, or deal with it': the psychological impact of involuntary childlessness for women living in midlife.
Study question: What is it like for women to be involuntarily childless in midlife?
Summary answer: Involuntarily childless women may be suffering from prolonged grief due to its ambiguous and intangible nature; however, they are also striving to find ways of dealing with their internal pain in order to live with their loss.
What is known already: Many studies examining issues around human reproduction have tended to place childlessness in the realm of medicalised infertility and report generalised mental issues, such as depression and psychological distress, existing amongst women undergoing fertility treatments. Few studies, however, have focused on the individual with regard to the experiential significance of involuntary childlessness and living beyond the phase of trying for a baby.
Study design, size, duration: A phenomenologically oriented person-centred qualitative design was use…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Impairments in life satisfaction in infertility: Associations with perceived stress, affectivity, partnership quality, social support and the desire to have a child.
Between 10% and 15% of couples in western society are affected by infertility. As a major source of psychological distress, infertility may be accompanied by a substantial decline in well-being, and mental symptoms including those of depression and anxiety. This study aimed to quantify impairments in life satisfaction in infertile couples and to identify psychosocial variables moderating these impairments. For this purpose, 228 infertile couples completed the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ), Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), Partnership Questionnaire (PQ), Social Support Questionnaire, (SSQ) and Questionnaire on the Desire to Have a Child (QDC). Our sample scored below the norm of the general population on the LSQ sum score and various subscales, including those assessing social relationships,…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Duffy JMN, Adamson GD, Benson E, Bhattacharya S, Bhattacharya S, Bofill M, Brian K, Collura B, Curtis C, Evers JLH, Farquharson RG, Fincham A, Franik S, Giudice LC, Glanville E, Hickey M, Horne AW, Hull ML, Johnson NP, Jordan V, Khalaf Y, Knijnenburg JML, Legro RS, Lensen S, MacKenzie J, Mavrelos D, Mol BW, Morbeck DE, Nagels H, Ng EHY, Niederberger C, Otter AS, Puscasiu L, Rautakallio-Hokkanen S, Sadler L, Sarris I, Showell M, Stewart J, Strandell A, Strawbridge C, Vail A, van Wely M, Vercoe M, Vuong NL, Wang AY, Wang R, Wilkinson J, Wong K, Wong TY, Farquhar CM, Priority Setting Partnership for Infertility, AlAhwany H, Balaban O, Barton F, Beebeejaun Y, Boivin J, Bosteels JJA, Calhaz-Jorge C, D’Angelo A, F.; Dann L, J.; De Jonge C, du Mez E, A. and 2 others (2020)MEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usHuman reproduction (Oxford, England)38 citations Top 10 priorities for future infertility research: an international consensus development study† ‡.
Study question: Can the priorities for future research in infertility be identified?
Summary answer: The top 10 research priorities for the four areas of male infertility, female and unexplained infertility, medically assisted reproduction and ethics, access and organization of care for people with fertility problems were identified.
What is known already: Many fundamental questions regarding the prevention, management and consequences of infertility remain unanswered. This is a barrier to improving the care received by those people with fertility problems.
Study design, size, duration: Potential research questions were collated from an initial international survey, a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and Cochrane systematic reviews. A rationalized list of confirmed research uncertainties was prioritized in an interim international survey. Prioritized research uncertainti…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Religious Women's Coping with Infertility: Do Culturally Adapted Religious Coping Strategies Contribute to Well-Being and Health?
Background: Infertility is a source of stress, particularly in pronatalist societies in which a lifestyle without children is viewed as an unacceptable option. The present study examined the relationship between the use of culturally adapted religious coping strategies and emotional adjustment among women coping with fertility problems.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional correlational study. One hundred and eighty-six religious Israeli women undergoing fertility treatment filled out questionnaires assessing their use of culturally adapted religious coping strategies and emotional adjustment (distress/well-being).
Results: A path analysis showed that the culturally adapted religious coping strategies of seeking the support of Rabbis and seeking the support of God had a strong correlation with reduced psychological distress, but not with enhanced psychological well-being. Seeking approval …
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Psychosocial wellbeing of infertile couples in Jordan.
Background: The psychological and social impact of infertility on married couples alerted researchers in developing countries to consequences of infertility and the need to not underestimate the problem.
Aim: To examine the psychosocial wellbeing of infertile couples in Jordan.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study design was used to collect data regarding depression, psychological distress, life satisfaction, coping, optimism and perceived social support from 248 infertile couples using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were collected from May to August 2016.
Results: One hundred and sixty-four (66%) of the infertile couples had moderate to severe depression. Infertile couples had a high level of psychological distress, low level of life satisfaction, and yet a high level of optimism that the infertility is temporary. Participants had moderate ability to cope,…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Predictors of quality of life and psychological health in infertile couples: the moderating role of duration of infertility.
Purpose: To investigate the influence of individual characteristics (age, gender, educational level, coping strategies), perceived couple's Dyadic Adjustment, type of diagnosis and duration of infertility on self-reported quality of life (QoL) and psychological health in infertile couples, examining the potential moderating role of duration of infertility.
Methods: A questionnaire composed by socio-demographics, Coping Orientations to Problem Experienced, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, FertiQoL, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Edinburgh Depression Scale was submitted to 206 couples undergoing infertility treatments.
Results: Female patients perceived significantly lower levels of QoL and higher levels of Anxiety and Depression. High Educational level and Social Support Coping strategy were associated with higher QoL and psychological health only in female patients. Problem Solving Coping str…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
The effect of depression on quality of life in infertile couples: an actor-partner interdependence model approach.
Background: Infertility can cause psychological distress and has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). There have been no studies investigating the effect of depression on QoL in infertile couples at the dyadic level. This study aimed to investigate the effects of actors' and partners' depression on QoL in male-female dyads experiencing infertility using an innovative dyadic analysis approach, the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM).
Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study on 180 infertile couples in Tehran, Iran, during August-September 2017. Quality of life and depression were assessed using Fertility Quality of Life and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. Dyadic data were analyzed by the APIM approach. In this method, actor effect is the impact of a person's depression on his/her own QoL. Partner effect is the impact of a person's depression on his/her …
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Assessment on Occurrences of Depression and Anxiety and Associated Risk Factors in the Infertile Chinese Men.
The prevalence of depression and anxiety in the Chinese male population with infertility is still uncertain. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and a combination of both psychological symptoms was 20.8%, 7.8%, and 15.4%, respectively in 771 infertile Chinese men in the current study by the Mental Health Inventory-5 and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Short Form questionnaires. Differences in demographics (age, education, and income) had no noticeable impact on the development of psychological symptoms. Clinical factors such as concomitant disorders (varicocele, epididymal cyst, and erectile dysfunction) were identified as risk factors associated with depressive symptoms ( OR = 1.47; 95% CI [1.14, 1.90]; p < .001) and both depressive and anxiety symptoms ( OR = 1.56; 95% CI [1.17, 2.08]; p < .001). An infertility duration over 2 years was associated with a high risk of anxiety sympt…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Anxiety and depression symptoms among sub-fertile women, women pregnant after infertility treatment, and naturally pregnant women.
Background: Infertility has been associated with psychological distress, but whether these symptoms persist after achieving pregnancy via assisted reproductive technology (ART) remains unclear. We compared the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms between women seeking for infertility treatment and women who conceived after ART or naturally.
Methods: Four hundred and sixty-eight sub-fertile non-pregnant women, 2972 naturally pregnant women and 143 women pregnant after ART completed a questionnaire in this cross-sectional study. The Anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A≥8) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS≥12) were used for assessing anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance were applied to explore associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Results: The prevalence …
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Normalization as a Strategy for Maintaining Quality of Life While Coping with Infertility in a Pronatalist Culture.
Purpose: Infertility could be highly stressful, particularly in a pronatalist culture. We aimed to develop the concept and a measure of normalization (maintaining normal life routines and feeling "normal") as a strategy that could enable women with infertility maintain their quality of life (QoL) while coping with this condition. We tested its associations with women's well-being, distress and QoL in Israel, where being childless is socially unacceptable and highly stigmatized.
Methods: One-hundred and eighty Israeli women undergoing infertility treatment at a fertility community clinic filled in questionnaires assessing normalization-related coping strategies, QoL, and psychological adjustment (distress, wellbeing). Eight months later, 55 women conceived; 55 women who had not conceived completed a second questionnaire.
Results: At baseline, normalization was related to higher QoL and be…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Neter E, Goren S (2017)MEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usInternational journal of behavioral medicine10 citations Infertility Centrality in the Woman's Identity and Goal Adjustment Predict Psychological Adjustment Among Women in Ongoing Fertility Treatments.
Purpose: Some of the women that go through repeated fertility treatments will not adjust well to the treatments and will experience increased distress. The present study examined how centrality of the fertility problem in the woman's identity and dispositional goal adjustment (disengagement and reengagement) are associated with the woman's psychological adjustment. These issues are examined in a context of a pro-natal society (Israel) where parenthood is a major life goal.
Methods: One hundred ninety-three women in ongoing fertility treatments filled out questionnaires, and follow-up on their psychological well-being was carried out after 3 months (N = 130).
Results: Women who perceived their fertility problem as more central to their identity experienced greater distress (β = 0.34, p < 0.01) and less well-being (β = - 0.31, p < 0.01). Concurrently, high ability for goal disengagement wa…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Gender differences in perception of psychosocial distress and coping mechanisms among infertile men and women in Saudi Arabia.
The objective of the study was to evaluate the differences in psychosocial distress and coping mechanisms among infertile men and women in Saudi Arabia (SA). We performed a cross-sectional study of infertile patients (206 women and 200 men) attending infertility clinics in three referral hospitals in Riyadh, SA. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed to assess socio-demographic, clinical and psychosocial variables. Infertility-related psychosocial pressures were reported in 79 (39.7%) male and 97 (47.3%) female participants (p = 0.123). Males suffered more from intrusive questions and pressure to conceive, remarry or get divorced, while females were stressed more from psychological and emotional exhaustion, marital discord, attitudes of mothers-in-law or society, and persistent desire by the husband to have children. To cope with infertility, females engaged more in religious acti…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Relationship between infertility-related stress and emotional distress and marital satisfaction.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive effects of infertility-related stress on psychological distress and marital satisfaction. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate a nonrecursive model hypothesizing the impact of infertility-related stress on both emotional distress and marital dissatisfaction, which were supposed to have a reciprocal influence on each other. The model was estimated using data from a sample of 150 infertile patients (78 males and 72 females). Findings confirmed the predictive effects of infertility-related stress on both emotional and marital distress. However, infertility-related stress was found to have more impact on emotional distress than on marital satisfaction.
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Factors that influence in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes of Chinese men: A cross-sectional study.
Background: The thought of producing offspring has rooted in Chinese culture after thousands of years of feudal society. Infertility in men would bear significant psychological distress in this social environment.
Purpose: In this study, we explored the association between the outcomes of IVF treatment and anxiety, depression, marital satisfaction, communication, sexual relationship and social support.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 202 Chinese men who received IVF treatment for the first time were investigated using socio-demographic questionnaire, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, ENRICH Marital Inventory and Social Support Rating Scale on the first day of IVF treatment.
Results: The overall prevalence of depression and anxiety was 49.1% and 27.2%, respectively. Subjects with IVF failure had higher levels of depression and anxiety, low…
matched on Fertilization in Vitro (mesh), Infertility, Male (mesh), infertility (text)
Dyer G, Gilroy N, Bradford J, Brice L, Kabir M, Greenwood M, Larsen SR, Moore J, Hertzberg M, Kwan J, Brown L, Hogg M, Huang G, Tan J, Ward C, Kerridge I (2016)MEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usBritish journal of haematology31 citations A survey of fertility and sexual health following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in New South Wales, Australia.
Four hundred and twenty-one adult allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) survivors participated in a cross-sectional study to assess sexual dysfunction and infertility post-transplant. Survey instruments included the Sydney Post-Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Survey, Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment (FACT) - BMT, the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS 21), the Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease (cGVHD) Activity Assessment- Patient Self Report (Form B), the Lee cGVHD Symptom Scale and The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Most HSCT survivors reported sexual difficulties (51% of males; 66% of females). Men reported erectile dysfunction (79%) and decreased libido (61·6%) and women reported loss of libido (83%), painful intercourse (73%) and less enjoyment of sex (68%). Women also commonly reported vaginal dryness (73%), vaginal narrowing (34%) and vaginal irri…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Psychosocial services for couples in infertility treatment: what do couples really want?
Objectives: To describe the psychosocial supports that infertile couples desire to help cope with infertility-related distress, which psychosocial services they sought, and the benefits and drawbacks of these services.
Methods: Qualitative interview study with 32 heterosexual infertile couples seeking infertility treatment. Maximum variation sampling was used; data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Most couples desired psychosocial support, but only half of the sample sought support. Some couples met with psychologists for help with relationship conflict and coping strategies. Participants suggested peer mentoring to fulfill needs for coping, shared experience, and guidance through the treatment process. Couples also desired written information about practical and emotional aspects of treatment. Negative attitudes toward psychological counseling and a lack of information ab…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
The psychological impact of infertility and fertility treatment on the male partner.
Objectives: This paper reports the findings of two studies that examined factors predicting infertility distress in male partners within couples with an infertility diagnosis and where the couple was receiving fertility treatment.
Design: A cross-sectional design was implemented using a questionnaire battery (The questionnaire battery comprised an inventory of four different standardised questionnaires compiled together into one booklet) compiled from earlier theory-building qualitative research conducted by the authors.
Methods: Infertility related distress was examined in relation to a number of psychosocial variables including relationship dynamics, self-esteem, current mental health and attitudes towards idealised masculinity. The questionnaire battery was completed by 167 men undergoing or consulting for fertility treatment. Participants were recruited through Irish fertility clinic…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Complementary and alternative medicine use in infertility: cultural and religious influences in a multicultural Canadian setting.
Objectives: To explore the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for infertility in a multicultural healthcare setting and to compare Western and non-Western infertility patients' reasons for using CAM and the meanings they attribute to CAM use.
Design: Qualitative semi-structured interviews using thematic analysis.
Settings/location: Two infertility clinics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Participants: An ethnoculturally varied sample of 32 heterosexual infertile couples.
Results: CAM used included lifestyle changes (e.g., changing diet, exercise), alternative medicine (e.g., acupuncture, herbal medicines), and religious methods (e.g., prayers, religious talismans). Patients expressed three attitudes toward CAM: desperate hope, casual optimism, and amused skepticism. PARTICIPANTS' CAM use was consistent with cultural traditions of health and fertility: Westerners relied prima…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
The impact of shame and self-judgment on psychopathology in infertile patients.
Background: Little is known about psychological processes of infertile couples pursuing medical treatment in comparison with fertile couples and adoption candidates who also suffer from infertility but are not seeking medical help. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of these individuals in terms of psychological processes (such as external shame, internal shame and self-judgment) and their association with psychopathology, also attending to gender differences.
Methods: One hundred control couples without known fertility problems [fertile group (FG)], 100 couples with an infertility diagnosis and pursuing medical treatment [infertile group (IG)], and 40 couples with an infertility diagnosis who are applying for adoption [adoption group (AG)] completed the instruments: Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Others as Shamer, Experience of…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Resilience in infertile couples acts as a protective factor against infertility-specific distress and impaired quality of life.
Objective: Our hypothesis was that resilience (=psychosocial stress-resistance) reduces infertility-specific distress and maintains quality of life of infertile couples.
Methods: Questionnaire data of WHO Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL; domains: 'physical', 'psychological', 'social relationships' and 'environment'), Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI; scales: 'social concern', 'sexual concern', 'relationship concern', 'rejection of childfree lifestyle' and 'need for parenthood'), Resilience Scale (RS), as well as sociographic and medical data were available for 199 infertile couples.
Results: Age, medical diagnosis and 'intensity of desire for a child' had no influence on quality of life. High scores on 'suffering from childlessness' went along with less satisfaction on 'physical' and 'psychological' domains for the women only. For both partners, high scores on 'suffering from childles…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Psychological distress among men suffering from couple infertility in South Africa: a quantitative assessment.
Background: Recent years have seen a growing interest in the impact of infertility on reproductive health in developing countries. Most of the research which has addressed the psychosocial consequences of infertility in African countries has been qualitative in nature and focused on women. It was the aim of this study to assess psychological distress quantitatively in men suffering from couple infertility living in an urban community in South Africa.
Methods: The Symptom Checklist-90-R, a standardized instrument for the measurement of current psychological symptom status, was administered to 120 men upon first presentation to a public health sector infertility clinic (study group) in a tertiary referral centre. The control group comprised 120 men who attended an antenatal clinic with their partner. All men may have previously fathered a child. Raw test scores were converted into standard…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Psychosocial characteristics of women and men attending infertility counselling.
Background: Little is known about the psychosocial characteristics of infertile couples seeking psychological help. This study describes couples attending infertility counselling.
Methods: Questionnaires pertaining to socio-demographic factors, motives for wanting a child, lay aetiology of their infertility, dimensions of life and partnership satisfaction, and a complaints list were completed by 974 women and 906 men. Of those who indicated an openness to counselling, almost half actually attended infertility counselling, and two groups, 'no counselling' (358 women and 292 male partners) and 'taking up counselling' (275 women and 243 male partners), were therefore compared.
Results: More couples with stressful life events were found in the counselling group. For women taking up counselling, psychological distress, in the form of suffering from childlessness and depression as well as subj…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Relationships between attachment, appraisal, coping and adjustment in men and women experiencing infertility concerns.
Background: Attachment style may influence distress and relationship satisfaction in infertile couples. Appraisal and coping have also been linked to adjustment to infertility and may be related to attachment patterns. The study examined these associations in men and women around the time of attending initial appointments at fertility clinics.
Methods: Attachment, appraisal, coping, general well-being, infertility-related stress and relationship satisfaction questionnaires were completed by 98 women and 64 men. Data were analysed by gender comparisons, correlations and path analysis.
Results: Attachment anxiety was associated with well-being in women via appraisal of infertility as a loss and use of self-blame and avoidance (SBA) coping. Attachment anxiety was also linked with infertility-related stress through SBA. In men, attachment anxiety was associated with well-being and infertilit…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
Helping themselves to get pregnant: a qualitative longitudinal study on the information-seeking behaviour of infertile couples.
Background: Couples seeking infertility treatment are generally hungry for information about available therapeutic options and how to help themselves achieve pregnancy. This study examined couples' perceptions of the information available from various sources in the context of achieved pregnancy or continuing treatment.
Methods: A 3 year prospective interview study started in April 2004, following couples undergoing infertility treatment at a tertiary fertility clinic at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. Fifty-four couples were invited to participate. Up to three semi-structured interviews took place, and were analysed thematically using a variation of grounded theory.
Results: Twenty-seven couples agreed to participate and of the 25 couples followed up, 11 were diagnosed with unexplained infertility. The age range of the women was 22-41 years. All hoped to be given information on helping the…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)
The relationship between perceived stigma, disclosure patterns, support and distress in new attendees at an infertility clinic.
Background: A model suggesting that high perception of stigma is associated with reduced disclosure to others, leading to lower social support and higher distress in new attendees at an infertility clinic is tested.
Methods: Questionnaires measuring stigmatization (Stigma consciousness questionnaire), disclosure of fertility difficulties (Disclosure questionnaire), social support (Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire) and fertility-related [Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI)] and generic distress [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)] were completed by 87 women and 64 men. Data were analysed by gender comparisons, correlations and path analysis.
Results: Women reported higher stigma and disclosure than men. For women, stigma and disclosure were unrelated but in men higher stigma was associated with lower disclosure. Perceptions of stigma were related to low social supp…
matched on Infertility (mesh), infertility (text)