Psychological Effects of Fertility Problems

Background: Infertility can be very stressful. The psychologicaland physical trauma associated with investigation and treatmentcan often be exacerbated by the length of treatment andthe multi-disciplinary approach that is involved.Materials and Methods: This is a review article. Literature forthe period ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۱۸ was searched in the electronic databasesof Google scholars, Cochrane, science Direct and Pub Med usingthe following key words.Results: The relationship between psychological stress and fertilityproblems is complex . The psychological state of couplesundergoing IVF may vary at different stages of treatment, themost stressful stages being waiting for the outcome of treatmentand finding out that IVF has been unsuccessful. Four surveyshave reported that most patients feel that access to a supportgroup and counseling would be beneficial. Some felt that psychologicalsupport should be available at all stages of infertilitytreatment and investigation. In another study, ۷۰% of patientssaid they would request counseling if it were available free ofcharge. Despite this, overall uptake of counseling is low at between۱۸% and ۲۵%. It has been suggested that less distressedpatients may not wish to receive counseling, and some may copewell with support from their spouses and family. Two-thirds ofpatients undergoing IVF treatment reported reading newspaperor magazine articles and watching television programs aboutthe psychological aspects of infertility, even though few participatedin a support group or sought counseling before treatment.This suggests that, for some patients, information about localand national support groups and booklets on the psychologicalaspects of treatment, in addition to medical information, maybe beneficial.Conclusion: The emotional consequences of anxiety andstress can be reduced by adequate provision of clear informationabout all aspects of investigations and treatment, involvingboth partners as an integral part of the management plan. Counselinginvolves a professional relationship between a qualifiedcounselor and a patient, who may be an individual, a couple ora group of people. This relationship is contained within a formalcounseling contract agreed and understood by both parties.The counselor has no other relationship with the client. Nurses,doctors and scientists in fertility clinics offer support and emotionalhelp to couples as part of their professional role, but it isnecessary to recognize this as using counseling skills within anexisting role.

کلیدواژه ها:

Infertility ، Psychological Treatment ، Counseling