Factors associated with infertility distress of infertile women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Women undergoing infertility treatment may suffer infertility distress. Objective The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with infertility distress in women with infertility problems. Materials and methods Women (N = 368) who received infertility treatment and agreed to participate in the study constituted the sample of this cross-sectional descriptive study. The participants filled out the “Descriptive Information Form on Women with Infertility” and the “Infertility Distress Scale (IDS)”. The data analysis of the study was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-20.0). The statistical significance was accepted to be p < .05. Results It was found out that the mean IDS score of women was 37.4 ± 9.96 (min: 21–max: 80). A significant difference was found between women’s educational level, employment status, difficulty in taking time off work, economic situation, the person who paid for treatment expenses and cause of infertility and mean IDS scores (p < .05). No significant relationship was found between women’s social security, family type, having children and previous infertility treatment and mean IDS scores (p > .05). A positive and statistically significant linear relationship was found between the IDS score and marriage duration, desiring time for a baby and duration of infertility treatment (p < .05). Conclusions The study revealed that the infertility distress level increased as the marriage duration, desiring time for a baby and the duration of infertility treatment of women admitted to the infertility clinic increased. Infertile women should be provided with care and support by considering these variables.