Stress and infertility: a review

Authors

  • Supriya Hajela Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IVF and Reproductive Biology Centre, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
  • Sudha Prasad Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IVF and Reproductive Biology Centre, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
  • Aswathy Kumaran Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IVF and Reproductive Biology Centre, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
  • Yogesh Kumar Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IVF and Reproductive Biology Centre, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20160846

Keywords:

Stress, Infertility, Mind body therapy, Yoga, IVF, ART

Abstract

Most of the couples suffering from infertility report it to be the most stressful and depressing period of their life. Stress can be a contributor to infertility and can adversely affect the treatment success, Recent scientific evidence suggest that psychological therapy, especially mind body therapy to counter stress can significantly improve pregnancy rates in women undergoing ART. Yoga is an ideal mind body therapy that is indigenous and one that can be effectively applied in the Indian scenario to optimize the psychological milieu of the sub fertile undergoing treatment. Infertility and ART from well-structured government run IVF centres can greatly reduce the financial burden of the infertile couple and further reduce their stress levels. Thus stress reducing strategies and low cost infertility treatment facility offer to be the ideal combination to fulfill the dreams of parenthood for the suffering sub fertile couples in India.

References

Infecundity, infertility, and childlessness in developing countries. DHS Comparative Reports No 9.Calverton, Maryland, USA: ORC Macro and the World Health Organization. 2004.

Sciarra J. Infertility: an international health problem. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1994;46:155-63.

Looking back, looking forward: a profile of sexual and reproductive health in India. New Delhi: Population Council. Population Council. Infertility. 2004:67-72.

Van Balen F, Gerrits T. Quality of infertility care in poor-resource areas and the introduction of new reproductive technologies. Hum Reprod. 2001;16:215-9.

Edrzejczak P, Luczak-Wawrzyniak J, Szyfter J, Prze- woźna J, Taszarek-Hauke G, Pawelczyk L. Feelings and emotions in women treated for infertility. Przeglad Lekarski. 2004;61,1334-7.

Cousineau TM, Domar AD. Psychological impact of infertility. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2007;21:293-308.

Bayley TM, Slade P, Lashen H. Relationships between attachment, appraisal, coping and adjustment in men and women experiencing infertility concerns. Human Reproduction. 2009;24:2827-37.

Pasha H. Evaluation of depression in infertile women using Beck and Hamilton. International Journal of Fertility and Sterility. 2011;5:99.

Nelson A, Gellar PA. Coping with fertility treatment: Infertility-related stress and social support among women receiving in vitro fertilization. Gender Medicine. 2011;9:S100.

Mendola R, Tennen H, Affleck G, McCann L, Fitzgerald T. Appraisal and adaptation among wo- men with impaired fertility. Cognitive Therapy and Re- search. 1990;14:79-93.

Stanton AL, Tennen H, Affleck G, Mendola R. Cognitive appraisal and adjustment to infertility. Women Health. 1991;17:1-15.

Stanton AL, Tennen H, Affleck G, Mendola R. Coping and adjustment to infertility. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 1992;11:1-13.

Shahnooshi M, Karimi Z. [Sociological impact of infertility upon family in Isfahan province] J Soc Sci. 2010;11(4):171-98.

O'Donnell E. Paris: Le Monde Diplomatique. 2008. Apr, Infertile in Iran. Available from: http://mondediplo.com/2008/04/15iran.

Dyer SJ, Abrahams N, Mokoena NE, Van der Spuy ZM. Psychological distress among women suffering from couple infertility in South Africa: a quantitative assessment. Hum. Reprod. 2004;19:960-7.

Paulus WE, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Christian-Lauritzen-Institut, Ulm, Germany. Fertil Steril. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertil Steril. 2002;77(4):721-4.

The Impact of Miscarriage and Parity on Patterns of Maternal Distress in Pregnancy Cheryl L. Woods-Giscombé, Marci Lobel, and Jamie L. Crandell. Correspondence to Cheryl L. Woods-Giscombé, School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. 1998:27599-7460.

Bergner A, Beyer R, Klapp BF, Rauchfuss M. Pregnancy after early pregnancy loss: A prospective study of anxiety, depressive symptomatology and coping. Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology. 2008;29,2:105-13.

Resolve: Fact Sheet Series, coping with the Stress of Infertility Fact Sheet 15, Infertility And Stress, by Alice D. Domar, PhD, Originally published: 1988:1-9. Last update: June 2007 Pages.

Downloads

Published

2016-12-27

Issue

Section

Review Articles