Factors influencing infertility-related quality of life in infertile women

Abstract

Infertile women experience various physical, psychological, and relational problems that affect their infertility-related quality of life (QoL). This study investigated infertile women's infertility-related QoL with the goal of identifying how it is influenced by fatigue, depression, and marital intimacy. Methods: A sample of 140 infertile women was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from February to April 2018 using self-report structured questionnaires at three infertility clinics located in Jeonju, Korea. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis in SPSS for Windows version 25.0. The subjects agreed to complete a face-to-face interview, including administration of the Fatigue Severity Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Marital Intimacy Scale, and the Fertility Quality of Life tool. Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.6±4.3 years. Infertility-related QoL was negatively correlated with fatigue (r=-.42, p<.001) and depression (r=-.56, p<.001), and positively correlated with marital intimacy (r=.30, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that depression (β=-0.44, p<.001), fatigue (β=-0.27, p<.001), and husband's attitude (β=-0.19, p=.007) had significant effects on the QoL of infertile women, accounting for 40.5% of the variance in infertility-related QoL. Conclusion: The study provides insights into how infertile women's infertility-related QoL was influenced by depression, fatigue, and their husbands' attitudes regarding infertility treatment. To improve infertile women's infertility-related QoL, healthcare providers should consider developing strategies to decrease depression and fatigue in infertile women and to address their husbands' attitudes.

Relationships among Type-D Personality, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Infertile Women

“…When the relationship with the spouse was poor, QoL related to infertility in infertile women was low. This is in line with a study [17] that shows that the spouse's attitude has an effect on QoL, and that QoL is higher when the spouse's attitude is active than when it is passive. Therefore, during the infertility treatment period, spouses' active cooperation with the treatment and support for infertile women is necessary.…”

“…Various factors have been reported to affect the QoL of infertile women. Infertile women experience various physical, psychological, and relational problems that affect their QoL [17]. Among these are demographic factors such as the duration of marriage and burden of the cost of infertility testing, burden of infertility, age [18], education level, duration of infertility treatment [19], relationship with spouse [10,20], physical factors such as fatigue [17,21], psychological factors such as stress [10], uncertainty [18], depression [17,22], and type-D personality [22].…”

“…Fatigue is a symptom of physical problems that occur when attempting to conceive through fertility procedures [17]. In a study of 140 infertile women, approximately 37% complained of fatigue, and the higher the fatigue of infertile women, the lower the QoL [17].…”

Influence of cognitive function and social support on health-related quality of life of elderly men in partial medically underserved rural areas: A cross-sectional study

“…Declining cognitive function showed a significantly lower self-esteem, increased stress, depression, and progression of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease in the later stages of life [7] and affects the physical health-related quality of life [8]. Aging causes physical decline and negatively affects brain function.…”

A Study on the Relationship between Fatigue, Psychosocial Stress, and Behavior that Reduces Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Exposure in Infertile Males

“…. 또한 난임과 관련된 연구들도 여성 중심으로 이루어져 (Hwang, 2013) (Kouvonen et al, 2005 (Mendola et al, 2008 (Kim & Roh, 2020;Kim et al, 2016;Kim et al, 2019b) 5).…”