Infertility and pregnancy loss

وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي مِرۡيَةࣲ مِّنۡهُ حَتَّىٰ تَأۡتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغۡتَةً أَوۡ يَأۡتِيَهُمۡ عَذَابُ يَوۡمٍ عَقِيمٍ

The disbelievers will remain in doubt about it until the Hour suddenly overpowers them or until torment descends on them on a Day devoid of all hope

أَوۡ يُزَوِّجُهُمۡ ذُكۡرَانࣰ ا وَإِنَٰثࣰ اۖ وَيَجۡعَلُ مَن يَشَآءُ عَقِيمًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمࣱ قَدِيرࣱ‏

male to whoever He will, or both male and female, and He makes whoever He will barren: He is all knowing and all powerful

فَأَقۡبَلَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُهُۥ فِي صَرَّةࣲ فَصَكَّتۡ وَجۡهَهَا وَقَالَتۡ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمࣱ‏

His wife then entered with a loud cry, struck her face, and said, ‘A barren old woman?’

وَفِي عَادٍ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلۡعَقِيمَ

There is another sign in the Ad: We sent the life-destroying wind against them

۞وَعِندَهُۥ مَفَاتِحُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَا يَعۡلَمُهَآ إِلَّا هُوَۚ وَيَعۡلَمُ مَا فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِۚ وَمَا تَسۡقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعۡلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةࣲ فِي ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا رَطۡبࣲ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَٰبࣲ مُّبِينࣲ‏

He has the keys to the unseen: no one knows them but Him. He knows all that is in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowledge, nor is there a single grain in the darkness of the earth, or anything, fresh or withered, that is not written in a clear Record

وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِيٓ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَرَأَوۡاْ أَنَّهُمۡ قَدۡ ضَلُّواْ قَالُواْ لَئِن لَّمۡ يَرۡحَمۡنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ

When, with much wringing of hands, they perceived that they were doing wrong, they said, ‘If our Lord does not have mercy and forgive us, we shall be the losers.’

And those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt of it that is the Qur’ān — because of what Satan had cast onto the tongue of the Prophet s and what had thereafter been nullified — until the Hour comes upon them unawares that is the Hour of their death or of resurrection comes upon them suddenly or there come upon them the chastisement of a day of desolation ‘aqīm namely the day of Badr which held nothing of good for disbelievers much like a sterile wind rīh ‘aqīm that bears no good; or it means the Day of Resurrection referred to as ‘desolate’ because thereafter there will be no more night.

Or He combines them that is to say or He makes them males and females; and He makes whomever He will infertile such that she is unable to conceive or he cannot have a child. Surely He is Knower of what He creates Powerful in bringing about whatever He will.

Then his wife Sarah came forward clamouring shouting fī sarratin is a circumstantial qualifier that is to say she came shouting and smote slapped her face and said ‘A barren old woman!’ who has never given birth to a child aged ninety-nine with Abraham being one hundred years old; or alternatively he was a hundred and twenty years old and she was ninety years old.

And those who disbelieved, will not cease to be in doubt about it until the Hour comes suddenly upon them, or there comes to them the torment of Yawm 'Aqim (55)The sovereignty on that Day will be that of Allah. He will judge between them. So those who believed and did righteous good deeds will be in Gardens of Delight (56)And those who disbelieved and denied Our Ayat, for them will be a humiliating torment (in Hell)(57) The Disbelievers will remain in Doubt and Confusion Allah tells us that the disbelievers will remain in doubt concerning this Qur'an. This was the view of Ibn Jurayj and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir. حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ السَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً (until the Hour comes suddenly upon them,) Mujahid said: "By surprise." Qatadah said: بَغْتَةً (suddenly) means, the command of Allah will catch the people unaware. Allah never seizes a people except when they are intoxicate

To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female upon whom He wills, and bestows male upon whom He wills (49)Or He bestows both males and females, and He renders barren whom He wills. Verily, He is the All-Knower and is Able (to do all things)(50) Allah tells us that He is the Creator, Sovereign and Controller of the heavens and the earth. Whatever he wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen. He gives to whomsoever He wills and withholds from whomsoever he wills; none can withhold what He gives, and none can give what He withholds, and He creates whatever He wills. يَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ إِنَاثًا (He bestows female upon whom He wills.) means, He gives them daughters only. Al-Baghawi said, "And among them (those who were given daughters only) was Lut, peace be upon him." وَيَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ الذُّكُورَ (and b

Has the story reached you, of the honored guests of Ibrahim (24)When they came in to him and said: "Salaman!" He answered: "Salamun" and said: "You are a people unknown to me. (25)Then he turned to his household, and brought out a roasted calf (26)And placed it before them (saying): "Will you not eat? (27)Then he conceived fear of them (when they ate not). They said: "Fear not." And they gave him glad tidings of a son having knowledge (28)Then his wife came forward with a loud voice; she smote her face, and said: "A barren old woman! (29)They said: "Even so says your Lord. Verily, He is the All-Wise, the All-Knower. (30) The Guests of the Prophet Ibrahim We mentioned this story before in Surah Hud and Al-Hijr. Allah said, هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ (Has the story reached you, of the honored guests of Ibrahim), whom Ibrahim honored and who, فَقَالُوا سَلَ

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ شَبَابٌ لاَ نَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْبَاءَةِ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْخَلاَّلُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدْ رَوَى غَيْرُ، وَاحِدٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَ هَذَا ‏.‏ وَرَوَى أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَالْمُحَارِبِيُّ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى كِلاَهُمَا صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated:"We went with Allah's Messenger, while we were young men who had nothing. He said: 'O young men! You should marry, for indeed it helps in lowering the gaze and protecting the private parts. Whoever among you is not able to marry, then let him fast, for indeed fasting will diminish his sexual desire

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هِشَامٍ الرِّفَاعِيُّ، وَزَيْدُ بْنُ أَخْزَمَ الطَّائِيُّ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْبَصْرِيُّ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنِ التَّبَتُّلِ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَزَادَ زَيْدُ بْنُ أَخْزَمَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ وَقَرَأَ قَتَادَةُ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ولقدْ أَرْسَلْنا رُسُلاً مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً ‏)‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ وَأَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ وَعَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ سَمُرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏ وَرَوَى الأَشْعَثُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏ وَيُقَالُ كِلاَ الْحَدِيثَيْنِ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Qatadah narrated from Al-Hasan, from Samurah that:The Prophet prohibited celibacy

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ يَعْنِي الدَّرَاوَرْدِيَّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ، جَمِيعًا بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ ‏.‏

This hadith has been narrated by Sulaiman b. Bilal with the same chain of transmitters

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَعُثْمَانُ، ابْنَا أَبِي شَيْبَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، قَالُوا جَمِيعًا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لَقِّنُوا مَوْتَاكُمْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Exhort to recite" There is no god but Allah" to those of you who are dying

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، بَكْرُ بْنُ خَلَفٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ أَفْلَحَ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ لِلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ أَرْبَعُ خِلاَلٍ يُشَمِّتُهُ إِذَا عَطَسَ وَيُجِيبُهُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَشْهَدُهُ إِذَا مَاتَ وَيَعُودُهُ إِذَا مَرِضَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Mas’ud that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:“The Muslim has four things due from the Muslim: He should answer [by saying Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)] to him if he sneezes (and says Al-Hamdulillah); he should accept his invitation if he invites him; he should attend his funeral if he dies; and he should visit him if he falls sick.”

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ "‏ خَمْسٌ مِنْ حَقِّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ رَدُّ التَّحِيَّةِ وَإِجَابَةُ الدَّعْوَةِ وَشُهُودُ الْجِنَازَةِ وَعِيَادَةُ الْمَرِيضِ وَتَشْمِيتُ الْعَاطِسِ إِذَا حَمِدَ اللَّهَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:“Five are the rights of the Muslim: Returning his greeting, accepting his invitation; attending his funeral; visiting the sick; and answering (saying Yarhamuk-Allah) to the one who sneezes, if he praises Allah (says Al-Hamdu Lillah).”

وقال سري السقطى : من ادعى باطن علم ينقضه ظاهر حكم فهو غالط

وقال بشر ما سألت أحدا قط شيئا إلا سريا السقطى لأنه قد صح عندي زهده في الدنيا فهو يفرح بخروج الشيء من يده ويتبرم ببقائه عنده فأكون عونا له على ما يحب

وقال سرى السقطي رحمه الله آه على لقمة ليس على الله فيها تبعة ولا لمخلوق فيها منة

فيكره ذلك والسقط ينبغي أن يسمى

وكان سرى السقطي يقول للصوفية إذا خرج الشتاء فقد خرج أذار وأورقت الأشجار وطاب الإنتشار فانتشروا

وقال السري السقطي: إنى لأنظر كل يوم إلى أنفى مخافة أن يكون قد اسود وجهي.

A randomized clinical trial to determine optimal infertility treatment in older couples: the Forty and Over Treatment Trial (FORT-T).: Objective: To determine the optimal infertility therapy for women at the end of their reproductive potential. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Academic medical centers and private infertility center in a state with mandated insurance coverage. Patient(s): Couples with ≥ 6 months of unexplained infertility; female partner aged 38-42 years. Intervention(s): Randomized to treatment with two cycles of clomiphene citrate (CC) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), follicle stimulating hormon

The clinical effectiveness of the Mind/Body Program for Infertility on wellbeing and assisted reproduction outcomes: a randomized controlled trial in search for active ingredients.: Study question: Does the Mind/Body Program for Infertility (MBPI) perform better, due to certain distinctive elements, than a partly matched support group in improving the wellbeing and medically assisted reproduction (MAR) outcomes of women with elevated distress levels in a clinical setting? Summary answer: While robust enhancements occurred in the wellbeing overall, the cognitive behavioural and formalized stress management elements of the MBPI allowed a significantly stronger improvement in

Men's grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model.: Background: Emotional distress following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss is common, with enduring grief occurring for many parents. However, little is known about men's grief, since the majority of existing literature and subsequent bereavement care guidelines have focused on women. To develop a comprehensive understanding of men's grief, this systematic review sought to summarise and appraise the literature focusing on men's grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss. Methods: A systemat

The effects of psychosocial interventions on the mental health, pregnancy rates, and marital function of infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review.: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of psychosocial interventions on the mental health, pregnancy rates, and marital function of infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), as determined through RCT studies. Methods: Using the electronic databases PubMed, EMBase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and CAJ, a systematic literature search was conducted in July 2015. MeSH terms, key words, and free words such as "infertility," "fertilization in vitro," "psy

Stress, distress and outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART): a meta-analysis.: Background: A number of studies have investigated the relationship between psychological factors such as stress and distress (measured as anxiety and depression) and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The results, however, are inconsistent, and the strength of any associations remains to be clarified. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the results of studies reporting on the associations between stress, anxiety, and depression and ART outcomes. Methods: Prospe

The impact of occupational shift work and working hours during pregnancy on health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.: Backgroud: An increasing number of original studies suggest that exposure to shift work and long working hours during pregnancy could be associated with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, but the results remain conflicting and inconclusive. Objective: To examine the influences of shift work and longer working hours during pregnancy on maternal and fetal health outcomes. Data sources: Five electronic databases and 3 gray literature sources were searched up to March 15, 2019. Methods of study

Endometrial injury to overcome recurrent embryo implantation failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mechanical endometrial injury (biopsy/scratch or hysteroscopy) in the cycle preceding ovarian stimulation for IVF has been proposed to improve implantation in women with unexplained recurrent implantation failure (RIF). This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing the efficacy of endometrial injury versus no intervention in women with RIF undergoing IVF. All controlled studies of endometrial biopsy/scratch or hysteroscopy performed in the cycle preceding ovarian stimulation were included and the primary outcome measure was clinical pregnancy rate. Pooling of seven controlled studies (four randomized and three non-randomized), with 2062 participants, showed that local endometrial injury induced in the cycle preceding ovarian stimulation is 70% more likely to result in a clinical pregnancy as opposed to no intervention. There was no statistically significant heterogen…

matched on Fertilization in Vitro (mesh), Pregnancy Rate (mesh)

Comparison of multiple psychological distress measures between men and women preparing for in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To compare multiple measures of psychological distress between men and women preparing for IVF. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Outpatient, academic infertility clinic. Patient(s): One hundred sixty-two consecutive couples presenting for infertility treatment with IVF. Intervention(s): Measures were completed as part of a routine, infertility-focused psychological evaluation, including the Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anger Inventory, and Impact of Events Scale. Main outcome measure(s): Scores of above psychological questionnaires. Result(s): Psychological distress scores were statistically significantly higher among women than men for symptoms of depression, state anxiety, infertility specific distress, and general perceived stress. However, aside from infertility-specific distress (d = .43), effect sizes for the paired di…

matched on Infertility (mesh), Fertilization in Vitro (mesh), infertility (text)

Who is at risk of emotional problems and how do you know? Screening of women going for IVF treatment.

Background: Fertility problems are accompanied by a lot of emotional distress, resulting in a considerable proportion of female patients showing severe maladjustment after assisted reproductive technology. Although this interferes with their daily life, emotional distress has also shown to be related to dropout of treatment and deterioration of health behaviour. Early identification of women at risk enables the provision of timely psychosocial support and the focusing psychosocial resources on those who need it most. This study investigated the psychometric characteristics of a screening tool SCREENIVF to identify women at risk of emotional problems at an early stage of treatment. Methods: Risk factors for emotional maladjustment were identified in a previous study and incorporated in SCREENIVF which consists of 34 items on general and infertility specific psychological factors. A group …

matched on Infertility (mesh), Fertilization in Vitro (mesh), infertility (text)

Interventions to improve reproductive outcomes in women with elevated natural killer cells undergoing assisted reproduction techniques: a systematic review of literature.

Study question: Is there any scientific evidence to support the routine use of adjuvant therapies for women with elevated natural killer (NK) cells undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) in order to improve live birth rate? Summary answer: Due to the poor quality evidence, this review does not support the use of described adjuvant treatments in women found to have elevated absolute numbers or activity of NK cells undergoing ART. What is known already: Deregulation in the numbers of NK cells and/or their activity, in the blood as well as in the endometrium, has been associated with various manifestations of reproductive failure. NK cell analysis is becoming increasingly popular as a test offered to investigate the causes of reproductive failure. Adjuvant therapies influencing the NK cells have been postulated as therapeutic options for couples where deregulation of this compon…

matched on Infertility (keyword), Reproductive Techniques, Assisted (mesh), infertility (text)

Psychological impact of early miscarriage and client satisfaction with treatment: comparison between expectant management and misoprostol treatment in a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To compare the short- and long-term emotional distress (grief, anxiety and depressive symptoms) after early miscarriage and satisfaction with treatment between women randomized to expectant management vs vaginal misoprostol treatment. Methods: This was a preplanned analysis of data collected during a randomized controlled trial comparing expectant management with misoprostol treatment in women with early anembryonic or embryonic miscarriage and vaginal bleeding. If the miscarriage was not complete on day 31 after inclusion, surgical evacuation was recommended. The main outcomes were levels of anxiety and grief, depressive symptoms and client satisfaction with the treatment, which were assessed using the following validated psychometric self-assessment instruments: Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI, Form Y), Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS), Montgomery-Åsberg Depressi…

matched on Abortion, Spontaneous (mesh), miscarriage (text)

Effect of supportive care on the psychosocial health status of women who had a miscarriage.

Purpose: This study aims to determine the effect of individualized care provided based on Swanson's Caring Theory on the grief, depression, anxiety, and stress levels of women who had a miscarriage. Design and methods: A total of 104 women who experienced a miscarriage were randomized as study (n = 52) and control (n = 52) groups. Findings: The women's physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive grief symptoms decreased after receiving Swanson's care (P < .001). Negative feelings about the future, level of depression, and anxiety levels diminished after receiving Swanson's Care (P < .001). Practice implications: Supportive care and counseling provided after miscarriage were found to contribute to women's psychosocial well-being and to improve their ability to cope with psychological symptoms.

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Women's experiences of miscarriage related to diagnosis, duration, and type of treatment.

Introduction: Women with miscarriage experience several negative emotional feelings such as grief, isolation, coping, and despair. However, less is known about how the type of treatment and diagnosis of miscarriage influence the emotional experience. Material and methods: The present study was a randomized prospective longitudinal cohort study, in which women with spontaneous miscarriage (n = 35), and women with missed miscarriage (n = 67), were included to answer three validated questionnaires: Revised Impact of Miscarriage Scale, Perinatal Grief Scale, and Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, concerning experience of miscarriage, psychological well-being, and mental health 1 week and 4 months after finalized treatment. Results: There was no difference between the 2 diagnosis groups in feelings as measured by Revised Impact of Miscarriage Scale, Montgomery and Åsberg Depressio…

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Resolution of depression and grief during the first year after miscarriage: a randomized controlled clinical trial of couples-focused interventions.

Aims: The purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to examine the effects of three couples-focused interventions and a control condition on women and men's resolution of depression and grief during the first year after miscarriage. Methods: Three hundred forty-one couples were randomly assigned to nurse caring (NC) (three counseling sessions), self-caring (SC) (three video and workbook modules), combined caring (CC) (one counseling session plus three SC modules), or control (no treatment). Interventions, based on Swanson's Caring Theory and Meaning of Miscarriage Model, were offered 1, 5, and 11 weeks after enrollment. Outcomes included depression (CES-D) and grief, pure grief (PG) and grief-related emotions (GRE). Differences in rates of recovery were estimated via multilevel modeling conducted in a Bayesian framework. Results: Bayesian odds (BO) ranging from 3.0 to 7.9 …

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Effect of a structured follow-up visit to a midwife on women with early miscarriage: a randomized study.

Background: Women's grief after miscarriage is substantial and important. Women who experience early miscarriage do not constitute a homogenous group. The aim of this study is to measure whether a structured follow-up visit to a midwife (group 1) at 21-28 days after early miscarriage could reduce the women's grief, measured using the perinatal grief scale Swedish short version (PGS) after a further 3 months (i.e. 4 months after the miscarriage), compared to a regular follow-up visit to a midwife (group 2). Methods: We performed an open randomized study of women who experienced early miscarriage (n = 88). The midwife's attitude in group 1 came from Swanson science theory of midwifery. In group 2, the women were offered only the ordinary type of consultation at a regular visit. A questionnaire with the PGS was used in both groups. Four months after the miscarriage, a second questionnaire w…

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Should fertilization treatment start with reducing stress?

In the past few decades, new and more efficient techniques to help solve fertility problems have become widely available throughout the developed world. These techniques include hormonal stimulation, ICSI, gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) and IVF, and their cost is, on average, considerable. There is substantial initial evidence that the psychological disposition of the parents-to-be influences their fertility and thus the outcome of fertilization techniques. Many fertility treatments include consultation with a psychologist and do try to keep the stress produced by the treatment itself to a minimum, using concurrent therapy. However, the accumulating evidence points to the need to program medical fertility treatment, bearing in mind both chronic and acute stress levels, and to treat for their reduction before commencing the (actual) fertility treatment. There is ample evidence tha…

matched on Infertility (mesh), Fertilization in Vitro (mesh), Reproductive Techniques, Assisted (mesh), infertility (text)

Effects of a partnership support program for couples undergoing fertility treatment.

Aim: The study's purpose was to examine the effects of providing a partnership support program. It was designed to improve Japanese couples' partnership, maintain quality of life, decrease psychological distress, and improve marital relationship satisfaction while they underwent infertility treatment that included the possibility of using assisted reproductive technology. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a two-group pretest-post-test design used purposive sampling and non-random assignment of 318 consenting Japanese patients from previous phases of assisted reproductive technology fertility treatment who were patients from a fertility clinic in Tokyo, Japan. The intervention group of 152 patients (76 couples) participated in the partnership support program. The comparison group of 166 patients (83 couples) received usual care. Recruitment was age matched. The program provided …

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Death audits and reviews for reducing maternal, perinatal and child mortality.

Background: The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include reducing the global maternal mortality rate to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age, in every country, by 2030. Maternal and perinatal death audit and review is widely recommended as an intervention to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality, and to improve quality of care, and could be key to attaining the SDGs. However, there is uncertainty over the most cost-effective way of auditing and reviewing deaths: community-based audit (verbal and social autopsy), facility-based audits (significant event analysis (SEA)) or a combination of both (confidential enquiry). Objectives: To assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of different types of death audits and reviews in reducing maternal, perinatal and child mortality. Search methods: We …

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From grief, guilt pain and stigma to hope and pride - a systematic review and meta-analysis of mixed-method research of the psychosocial impact of stillbirth.

Background: Despite improvements in maternity healthcare services over the last few decades, more than 2.7 million babies worldwide are stillborn each year. The global health agenda is silent about stillbirth, perhaps, in part, because its wider impact has not been systematically analysed or understood before now across the world. Our study aimed to systematically review, evaluate and summarise the current evidence regarding the psychosocial impact of stillbirth to parents and their families, with the aim of improving guidance in bereavement care worldwide. Methods: Systematic review and meta-summary (quantitative aggregation of qualitative findings) of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies. All languages and countries were included. Results: Two thousand, six hundred and nineteen abstracts were identified; 144 studies were included. Frequency effect sizes (FES %) were cal…

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Screening to prevent spontaneous preterm birth: systematic reviews of accuracy and effectiveness literature with economic modelling.

Objectives: To identify combinations of tests and treatments to predict and prevent spontaneous preterm birth. Data sources: Searches were run on the following databases up to September 2005 inclusive: MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE, the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL and Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register) and MEDION. We also contacted experts including the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group and checked reference lists of review articles and papers that were eligible for inclusion. Review methods: Two series of systematic reviews were performed: (1) accuracy of tests for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic women in early pregnancy and in women symptomatic with threatened preterm labour in later pregnancy; (2) effectiveness of interventions with potential to reduce cases of spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic women in early pregnancy and to reduc…

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Interpretative Phenomenology of Grief following Reproductive Loss: A Narrative Review and Considerations on Improving Support.

The loss of pregnancy through miscarriage or stillbirth is typically an unexpected and highly distressing event for parents. While death in any form may be overwhelming to those bereaved, pregnancy and newborn loss are unique in several ways because they involve the added loss of parental identity and the idealized baby and family. In this study, the authors performed a narrative review of the literature regarding the phenomenon of grief following reproductive loss in bereaved parents, focusing on heteronormative mothers and fathers and on nontraditional families. One of the main highlighted aspects is the disenfranchisement of grief, which refers to a loss that is not or cannot be acknowledged, publicly mourned, or socially supported. This feeling is elicited by family, society, and healthcare providers. Although the literature has consistently documented the negative impact of this typ…

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Complicated grief after perinatal loss.

The loss of an infant through stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death is recognized as a traumatic life event. Predictors of development of complicated grief after prenatal loss include lack of social support, pre-existing relationship difficulties, or absence of surviving children, as well as ambivalent attitudes or heightened perception of the reality of the pregnancy. Risk of complicated grief was found to be especially high after termination of a pregnancy due to fetal abnormality. Studies have revealed that men and women show different patterns of grief, potentially exacerbating decline in a relationship. Although it is clear that prenatal loss has a large psychological impact, it is concluded that there is a substantial lack of randomized controlled studies in this field of research.

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[Mourning after perinatal death--prevalence symptoms and treatment--a review of the literature].

Miscarriage and perinatal loss are associated with considerable psychosocial distress. A substantial proportion of women who suffered the loss of a child develop a psychological disorder. Depression, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and somatoform disorder all have been linked in various studies to grief reactions in response to perinatal loss. A number of studies based on clinical and empirical evidence suggest various therapeutic procedures. However, a current Cochrane review fails to provide empirical evidence favouring a specific treatment strategy. In Germany in routine care in gynaecology no psychological support is offered to women suffering from grief reactions due to perinatal loss. Further research is needed to develop evidence based treatment strategies for secondary prevention in this field.

matched on Abortion, Spontaneous (mesh), Stillbirth (mesh), miscarriage (text)

Perinatal loss: a family perspective.

Perinatal loss is a profound experience for childbearing families. Examples of perinatal loss include miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal death, and other losses. Perinatal loss engenders a unique kind of mourning since the child is so much a part of the parental identity. Societal expectations for mourning associated with perinatal loss are noticeably absent. Gender differences in response to such loss, as well as sibling and grandparent grief have been identified in the literature. Descriptive studies provide information on cultural responses to perinatal loss. Nursing interventions have been refined over the past two decades as research studies have been performed, in order to more fully promote health and healing in the face of perinatal loss. These include helping to create meaning through the sharing of the story of parental loss, the facilitation of sociocultural …

matched on Abortion, Spontaneous (mesh), Stillbirth (mesh), miscarriage (text)

Prevalence and associated risk factors for anxiety and depression in infertile couples of ART treatment: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Infertility now is a public health concern and is associated with increased psychological distress. Methods: We enrolled 1247 infertile couples and assessed their anxiety and depression status before and during assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). The Chi-square or fisher's exact test was used to analyze the prevalence of anxiety and depression in infertile couples. Multivariate logistical regression was performed to analyze the risk factors for anxiety and depression. Results: The prevalence of anxiety was 13.5% and 8.7% (p < 0.05), and that of depression was 9.4% and 7.9% (p = 0.2) in female and male partners, respectively. Female SAS and SDS scores were positively associated with male SAS and SDS scores, respectively (r = 0.52 and r = 0.50, respectively, both p < 0.0001), and were…

matched on Infertility (mesh), Reproductive Techniques, Assisted (mesh), infertility (text)

Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of infertile couples.

Objective(s): to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infertile couples' emotions, anxiety and future plans. Study design: An observational study was perfomed by Italian ART centers and online forums. In this study, infertile couples candidate to ART and whose treatment was blocked due to the COVID-19 lockdown were enrolled through an online survey. The psychological impact of COVID-19 was measured by Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and by a short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Self-perceived anxiety related either to pregnancy safety and to economic crisis measured by VAS scale. Results: 627 patients completed the survey. The COVID-19 lock-down had a moderate/severe psychological impact on infertile patients (mean IES-R score 36.4 ± 16.6). The mean STAI score was 49.8 ± 15.3, with an overall incidence of STAI > 36 of 71 %. The mean VAS sca…

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Assessment of sexual and emotional distress in infertile couple: validation of a new specific psychometric tool.

Background: The diagnosis of infertility strongly impacts on psychological and sexological couple health. In this regard, some feelings and psychological states were demonstrated in association with reproductive problems. Depression and anxiety are the most common psychopathologies associated with infertility, although also sexuality is strongly involved in infertility conditions. Objectives: The aim of this study is to develop a tool to probe and assess the emotional aspects, sexuality, and social relationships of the couple seeking medical care for infertility. Materials and methods: A self-reported questionnaire that we will refer to as SEIq (Sexuality and Emotions in Infertility questionnaire) was constructed and developed and, consequently, administered to 162 heterosexual couples (324 subjects) seeking help for reproductive problems. Hence, we performed a specific statistical analy…

matched on Infertility (mesh), Reproductive Techniques, Assisted (mesh), infertility (text)

Are attachment dimensions associated with infertility-related stress in couples undergoing their first IVF treatment? A study on the individual and cross-partner effect.

Study question: Are attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions in female and male partners in couples seeking infertility treatment associated with her and his infertility-related stress? Summary answer: Attachment dimensions are significantly associated with several aspects of infertility stress in couples undergoing IVF treatment. What is known and what this paper adds: Attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance (where highly anxious individuals fear rejection and are preoccupied with maintaining proximity to their partner and highly avoidant individuals are uncomfortable with intimacy and prefer to maintain distance from their partner) may influence the well being of individuals undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment. This study showed that one partner's attachment dimensions had a direct effect on the infertility-related stress of the other partner. Design: Cross-sectional study of conse…

matched on Fertilization in Vitro (mesh), Infertility, Female (mesh), Infertility, Male (mesh), infertility (text)

Health-related quality of life in infertile couples receiving IVF or ICSI treatment.

Background: Infertile couples might experience psychological distress and suffer from impaired health-related quality of life. This study aimed to examine health-related quality of life in infertile couples receiving either in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of quality of life in infertile couples attending to Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center or Royan Institute for either IVF or ICSI treatment in Tehran, Iran. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics were also recorded. Data were analyzed to compare quality of life in infertile women and men and to indicate what variables predict quality of life in infertile couples. Results: In all 514 women and 514 men (n = 1028) were studied. There were…

matched on Fertilization in Vitro (mesh), Infertility, Female (mesh), Infertility, Male (mesh), infertility (text)

Low negative affect prior to treatment is associated with a decreased chance of live birth from a first IVF cycle.

Background: Psychological variables, such as anxiety and depression, may have a negative impact on IVF outcomes, but the evidence remains inconclusive. Previous studies have usually measured a single psychological parameter with clinical pregnancy as the outcome. The objective of the current study was to determine whether pretreatment or procedural psychological variables in women undergoing a first IVF cycle affect the chance of achieving a live birth from that cycle. Methods: Between February 2002 and February 2004, 391 women with an indication for IVF were recruited at two University Medical Centres in The Netherlands. Pretreatment anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The Daily Record Keeping Chart was used to measure negative and positive affect before treatment and daily during ovarian stimulation. Multiple stepwise forward logistic re…

matched on Fertilization in Vitro (mesh), Infertility, Female (mesh), Infertility, Male (mesh), infertility (text)

Living with Loss: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating an internet-based perinatal bereavement program for parents following stillbirth and neonatal death.

Background: Stillbirth and neonatal death are devastating pregnancy outcomes with long-lasting psychosocial consequences for parents and families, and wide-ranging economic impacts on health systems and society. It is essential that parents and families have access to appropriate support, yet services are often limited. Internet-based programs may provide another option of psychosocial support for parents following the death of a baby. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of a self-guided internet-based perinatal bereavement support program "Living with Loss" (LWL) in reducing psychological distress and improving the wellbeing of parents following stillbirth or neonatal death. Methods: This trial is a two-arm parallel group randomized controlled trial comparing the intervention arm (LWL) with a care as usual control arm (CAU). We anticipate recruiting 150 women and men acros…

matched on Stillbirth (mesh), Perinatal Death (mesh)