Quality of life in Turkish infertile couples and related factors

Abstract

Infertility is a major life crisis affecting couples' psychosocial and physical health. We aimed to assess the quality of life in Turkish infertile couples. This cross-sectional survey was carried out in 127 infertile couples admitted to a University Hospital. The quality of life was measured using the fertility quality of life tool (FertiQoL) scale. Women had lower overall quality of life than men. Women and men who were married for fewer than 10 years had a significantly lower emotional score. Women who had a history of infertility treatment, men who have lived in the town or village men with primary infertility and men who have had primary education or lower, had lower scores for mind/body subscale. Social scores were found lower in women under the age of 30, women with middle or low income, men who were married for fewer than 10 years, men who did not have children for 5 years or more and men with primary infertility. The tolerability and environment scores were significantly higher in women who had been married more than once. We conclude that health care providers should be aware of the factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) and give counselling to improve couples' quality of life at infertility clinics.

The effect of stigma on depression levels of Turkish women with infertility

“…1 Those with higher incomes are expected to participate in social life. 27 A significantly positive correlation was found among stigma and depression. This shows that, as the level of stigma increased, depression increased.…”

“…Asadi and Hüssein found that the depression prevalence among 251 infertile women was 68.9% and was more common among housewives with infertility. Having a low income and being a housewife who is infertile is associated with higher levels of anxiety, obsession, and psychosomatic complaints compared to infertile women who are employed and have a better income . This may be attributed to the fact that housewives usually have limited access to information sources and explanations about infertility and its consequences.…”

“…Medical treatment for infertility may take a long time; uncertain treatment and, at the same time, social pressure, can be an economic burden, because treatment is expensive in Turkey . Those with higher incomes are expected to participate in social life …”

“…Having a low income and being a housewife who is infertile is associated with higher levels of anxiety, obsession, and psychosomatic complaints compared to infertile women who are employed and have a better income. 27 This may be attributed to the fact that housewives usually have limited access to information sources and explanations about infertility and its consequences. Also, due to long stays alone in the house, there is a feeling of a lack of control in such unusual stressful situations.…”

Impact of irregular marital cohabitation on quality of life and sexual dysfunction in infertile men from upper Egypt

“…Only four previous studies have used the FertiQoL instrument to investigate factors affecting quality of life in infertile couples [19][20][21][22]. A study was conducted in Turkey to identify factors affecting quality of life in 127 infertile couples using the FertiQoL.…”