Quality of Life among Infertile Couples in Gaza City, Palestine

Abstract

Background: Infertility is an important health problem affecting the quality of life accompanied by significant emotional and psychological consequences. Infertile couples living with emotional disturbances face challenges with less success of infertility treatment. Purposes: This study aimed to investigate the quality of life of infertile couples who seek In-Vitro Fertilizations (IVFs) by gender in Gaza city, Palestinian. Methods and materials: A cross sectional study was conducted, from Feb 2018 to Nov 2018, among 383 infertile couples selected through convenient sampling. A valid and reliable Arabic version of the fertility quality of life questionnaire (FertiQoL) was used in data collection. One way ANOVA and independent t-test was applied to compare between males and females. P value less than 0.05% was considered statistical significance. Results: The mean age of males and females was 34.54±8.54 and 29.28±6.71 years respectively. More than half of them had university degree (64% and 60% respectively). The mean duration of infertility of couples was 5.66±3.54 years. The mean males' scores of FertiQoL and its subscales (emotion, mind/body, social, core, tolerability and treatment) were significantly higher than females' scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: The males' total scores of FertiQoL and its subscales were higher than females' scores. The mean total of FertiQoL increased with better education, however, decreased with increase of age, duration of marriage, duration of infertility and number of IVF attempts. Psychological assessment and Counseling are necessary for infertile women taking into considerations factors affecting their QoL.

Even miracle takes a little time; you have to believe what are the factors associated with quality of life of infertile couple?

“…In the present systematic review data has been collected from various past studies conducted on the quality of life. The four studies [1,4,7,9] which have been included compared the quality of life of Infertile Women with Fertile women and Six studies [2,3,5,6,8,10] compared the quality of life of infertile women with infertile men as an infertile couples. As well these studies utilizes the WHOQOL, Ferti QOL and SF 36 questionnaire to assess the quality of life ; along with this other domains like general health of Infertile women (GHQOL 28), Linda berg Questionnaire for sexual Satisfaction, Social Support Scaling, Beck's inventory for depression were also used.…”

“…The results of these studies [2,3,5,6,8,10] showed that in general in infertile couples which compared the quality of life of infertile women with infertile men revealed that the mean males' scores of FertiQoL and its subscales (emotion, mind/body, social, core, tolerability and treatment) were significantly higher than females' scores (p<0.05). The mean total of FertiQoL increased with better education, however, decreased with increase of age, duration of marriage, duration of infertility and number of IVF attempts.…”

“…We searched for reviews that reported the quality of life of infertile couple and factors that affect their physical as well as mental health status [1] original studies on Quality of life and general health of infertile couple. [2] Sample obtained from the general population, clinics and hospitals [3] cross-sectional, comparative or longitudinal studies [4] studies that are published and available for free access from 2011 to 2019.…”