Impact of group psychological interventions on pregnancy rates in infertile women

Abstract

Objective: To determine the efficacy of two different group psychological interventions on viable pregnancy rates in women experiencing infertility of less than 2 years’ duration. Design: Prospective, controlled, single-blind, randomized study. Setting: Large tertiary-care teaching hospital. Patient(s): One hundred eighty-four women who had been trying to get pregnant for 1 to 2 years. Intervention(s): Participants were randomized into a 10-session cognitive-behavioral group, a standard support group, or a routine care control group. They were followed for 1 year. Main Outcome Measure(s): Viable pregnancy. Result(s): Seventy-three women discontinued participation in the study within the first year. There were a total of 47 in the cognitive-behavioral group, 48 in the support group, and 25 in the control group. There were statistically significant differences between participants in the two intervention groups versus the control group. Conclusion(s): Group psychological interventions appear to lead to increased pregnancy rates in infertile women.