Analysis on the Levels of Hope and Influencing Factors of Infertile Women with First-time and Repeated IVF-ET Cycle

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the hope level and influencing factors of infertile women with first-time and repeated in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).Methods: Patients were divided into First (first-time) and Repeat (≥2 cycles) groups, then questionnaire survey was conducted. The questionnaire included demographic information, Herth hope index (HHI) scale, Locke-Wallace short marital-adjustment test scale and social support rating scale. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the associated influencing factors with hope level.Results: A total of 298 IVF-ET patients were recruited in the study, including 150 (50.3%) in the first cycle and 148(49.7%) in the repeated cycle. The HHI score of the repeated cycle was significantly lower than that of the first cycle (34.4 ± 3.5 vs. 37.5± 3.7, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that repeated IVF-ET and age was independently negatively correlated with HHI, with a standardized coefficient β of -0.895 and -0.223, both P＜0.001. While high education level (P=0.002), high monthly income(P=0.020), high degree of short marital-adjustment test(P＜0.001) and social support rating(P＜0.001) were independently positively correlated with HHI.Conclusion: The infertile women with repeated IVF-ET have a low hope level. Maintaining a good marriage adjustment, establishing a good social support and relationship network, may effectively improve their hope level.