Psychological Impact of Infertility. Directions for the Development of Interventions

Abstract

Introduction: Infertility represents a major health problem that oftentimes is experienced as a crisis situation. Because it interposes with achieving an important life goal, that of having children, its implications on the psycho-emotional level are robust. Purpose: The present article aimed at exploring the multidimensional effects of infertility on mental health, as well as suitable psychological intervention strategies for patients both at an individual and couple level. Methodology: An extensive literature review was conducted to select the most relevant information. Articles included were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar and other similar databases within a seven years interval (2014-2021) to assure the up-to-date quality of the paper. The main criteria of inclusion were: studies about the consequences of infertility on mental health, epidemiology, risk and protective factors, psychological models for infertility, psychological evaluation, established instruments, psycho-social and therapeutic interventions, intervention protocols used in public health for infertility patients. Results and Discussion: Infertility is often experienced as a crisis situation, in which the most common consequences are visible at the level of mood disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression, marked distress) and at the social level (stigma, divorce, social isolation, financial difficulties). Psychological counseling is needed throughout medical treatment and therapeutic interventions (e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy) have shown favorable results in managing the emotional balance of the individual/couple and reducing the risk of psychopathology. Conclusions: Research highlights the beneficial effects of psychological interventions on reducing levels of stress related to infertility, anxiety and depressive symptoms and on improving the quality of life and couple dynamics

Using CBT for Depression: A Case Study of a Patient with Depressive Disorder Due to a Medical Condition (Infertility)

“…Another possible barrier to care can be the absence of psychological counseling services in IVF clinics. It has been shown that psychological support for both individual and couple levels offered simultaneously with medical treatment in IVF clinics improves treatment success rates and overall mental health of the patient by reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress levels (Vioreanu, 2021). Some patients do not afford to pay for extra therapeutic services, thus they may struggle with finding help.…”

“…Thus, women with infertility are socially isolated, neglected, more prone to divorce and experience a drastic decrease in self-esteem and self-worth, which can lead to feelings of guilt and lack of meaning in life. Depression can occur as a consequence of infertility affecting the normal functioning of the person and the quality of the couple's relationship (Vioreanu, 2021).…”

Infertile Jordanian Women’s Self-Perception About Societal Violence: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study

“…The pressure to conceive and produce children is high, and infertility can be seen as a significant obstacle to achieving family goals. 3 Relationships suffer when one or both parties within the couple are diagnosed as being infertile, and the initial crisis is often compounded by the reactions of those around them. It is common for women to bear children within the first year of marriage to prove their fertility and actual or suspected infertility is highly stigmatizing.…”

Psychosocial Impact of Infertility Diagnosis and Conformity to Gender Norms on the Quality of Life of Infertile Spanish Couples

“…Despite this, ARTs have become the first intervention to solve conception problems. Therefore, being infertile and undergoing fertility treatments are conditions that affect different areas of the lives of infertile individuals and couples [5]. Reactions to infertility include shock, sadness, depression, anger, frustration, and loss of self-esteem; especially, women are affected, as they receive most of the treatments and interventions on their bodies [6][7][8].…”