The Effectiveness of Treatment Based on Acceptance and Commitment to the Health-Enhancing Lifestyle and Emotional Distress of Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment with in Vitro Fertilization

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on perceived stress, psychosomatic symptoms and emotional distress in women undergoing IVF infertility treatment. Methods: The method of this research is quasi-experimental and is a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population in this study included women undergoing IVF infertility treatment who referred to infertility treatment centers and clinics in Tehran in 2019. Cohen's table was used to determine the sample size. According to this table, with an effect size of 0.5 and a power of 0.76 with an alpha of 0.05, the sample size of 30people was estimated and the available sampling method was selected, in which 15 people were randomly assigned in each group (experimental and control). Cohen et al.'s Perceived Stress Questionnaire (1983), Lovibond & Lovibond LacourtAnxiety, Stress and Depression (1995), Lacourt Psychosomatic Symptoms (2013), and Acceptance and Practice Version II (2011) were used to collect information in two stages: pre-test and post-test. The experimental group underwent acceptance and commitment group therapy Based on Hayes therapy package (2002), in 8 sessions of 90 minutes, while the control group did not receive any intervention. SPSS-22 software was used to evaluate the results. Results: The results of repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that acceptance and commitment based therapy is effective in reducing perceived stress, psychosomatic symptoms and emotional distress in women undergoing IVF infertility treatment (P <0.001). Also, the results were stable in the follow-up phase. Conclusion: It is recommended that therapists and counselors of infertility treatment centers use acceptance and commitment therapy in infertility clinics to reduce the needs and psychological problems of infertile women undergoing IVF treatment.

Just relax and you'll get pregnant? Meta-analysis examining women's emotional distress and the outcome of assisted reproductive technology

Socio-economic status and emotional distress of female Turkish immigrants and native German women living in Berlin

Objective To examine whether pretreatment emotional distress in women is associated with achievement of pregnancy after a cycle of assisted reproductive technology.Design Meta-analysis of prospective psychosocial studies.Data sources PubMed, Medline,...

The purpose of this study is to investigate how family-related opinions and stressful situations are related to psychological distress in women undergoing infertility treatment. The subjects in this cross-sectional study were recruited from female patients undergoing infertility treatment (n = 2540) at 70 infertility treatment institutions in Japan. Because of non-participation or missing data, the number of subjects included in the analysis was 635 (response rate, 25.0%). The family-related opinions and stressful situations were evaluated using the original questions. Psychological distress was assessed using a self-report measure, the Kessler Six-question Psychological Distress Scale (K6). The K6 scores of the following participants were significantly (p < 0.05) and independently high: those with more frequent miscarriage/stillbirth/abortions, those with repeated miscarriages as the cause of infertility, those with infertility of unknown causes, those living with no child, those having a low joint income with their partner, those with the opinion that “women should devote themselves to their household duties” those who had considered stopping treatment, those without the opinion that “married life without children is favorable” and those who had experienced stressful situations such as inadequate explanation by doctors, frustration of multiple failed attempts, differences of opinion with the partner, and lack of knowledge regarding when to stop treatment. Family-related opinions and stressful situations associated with psychological distress in women undergoing infertility treatment are outlined. The results of this study may contribute to the prevention of and care for psychological distress in female patients undergoing infertility treatment.

We examined a model of stress and coping in 749 African-American women at risk for HIV infection. Women in the sample were either homeless, intravenous drug users (IVDUs) sexual partners of IVDUs, or prostitutes. A model was hypothesized based on stress and coping theory and research. Antecedents studied were personal resources, specifically self-esteem and available support. Mediators were threat appraisal and coping efforts. Outcomes studied were emotional distress and HIV risk behaviors. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to test hypothesized pathways between these variables. Forty-five percent of the variance in emotional distress in these women was explained by the model with self-esteem and avoidant coping the strongest predictors. Ten percent of the variance in risk behavior was explained by the model with emotional distress the strongest predictor. Direct and indirect pathways predicting risk behavior and distress are discussed. Implications of results for intervention and theory building are considered.

In Brief Objective To identify the levels of grief and depression and the coping mechanisms of women with infertility problems who participated in in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ovulation-induction medication. Methods Pretest and post-test data were obtained from 50 IVF and 50 ovulation-induction medication patients receiving treatment at two urban infertility centers. Results Both groups of women experienced measurable levels of grief and depression before, during, and after treatment. Higher scores on the Grief Experience Inventory were found for both groups of women when pregnancy did not occur. Age, reproductive problems, years infertile, financial impact, and number of past IVF cycles were not found to influence the reported grief or depression levels. Women in the IVF and ovulation-induction medication groups used isolation coping behaviors such as self-talk and sleep. Conclusion Because of moderate to high levels of grief and depression, therapeutic counseling may be more effective if initiated before the infertility treatment. Women's present levels of distress and coping strategies should be assessed prior to initiating infertility treatment to provide the patients with opportunities to learn and practice new adaptive behaviors that could enhance their ability to cope with infertility and the associated medical procedures. Women who undergo infertility treatment often experience grief and depression and may benefit from therapeutic counseling before, during, and after this stressful period.

Factors associated with postpartum depressive symptoms among women who conceived with infertility treatment

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga exercises on anthropometric parameter and clinical sign of PCOS among women undergoing infertility treatment. This clinical trial study was performed on 61 women with PCOS who have undergone infertility treatment at Sarem Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The patients were first selecting based on purposeful and then randomly assigning to the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, yoga exercises were performed for 6 weeks and the patients in the control group only received routine care. Anthropometric parameters and clinical signs were performed and recorded. After the intervention, here was a significant reduction in hirsutism, abdominal circumference, and hip circumference scores in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Given the effects of yoga exercises on the improvement of hirsutism, abdominal circumference, and hip circumference, it is suggested to use yoga as a treatment strategy in women with PCOS.

Background Infertility profoundly affects women, impacting their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Women undergoing infertility treatment often face significant stigma, leading to feelings of inadequacy and isolation. Societal pressures to conceive exacerbate emotional distress and strain relationships. Additionally, the financial burden of treatment adds to these challenges. Title “Exploring the stigma and life challenges faced by women undergoing infertility treatment at selected Tertiary Care Centre in Chennai.” Objective To explore the stigma and life challenges faced by women undergoing infertility treatment at selected Tertiary Care Centre in Chennai. Materials and Methods The study adopted a phenomenological qualitative research design with 10 participants selected using purposive sampling. Data collection included socio-demographic data forms and semi-structured interviews. Results The findings revealed five key themes. The Emotional Impact theme highlighted a strong desire for motherhood, with treatment failures leading to sadness, hopelessness, and feelings of personal failure. Social Stigma involves societal expectations, hurtful comments, and exclusion. Relationship Dynamics revealed the marital strain, though some women found support from their husbands. Coping Strategies included avoiding triggering situations, reliance on spirituality, and emotional resilience. Financial and Physical Strain addressed the financial burden and physical exhaustion of treatment. Conclusion The study underscores the multifaceted challenges women face during infertility treatment, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support systems, including emotional and financial resources, to improve care delivery and enhance emotional well-being.

A majority of infertile women experience emotional problems, such as anxiety and depression. Nurses need nonpharmacological methods rather than drugs to address women's emotional distress during the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation exercises and laughter therapy on the mental health and treatment outcomes of women receiving IVF treatment. This parallel-group, randomized controlled trial was conducted in a private IVF center. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG; n = 71) and control group (CG; n = 70). The IG received progressive muscle relaxation and laughter therapy for 40 min in each session for 3-4 sessions, whereas the CG received routine care. Data were obtained from the patient information form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and medical records. The questionnaire was completed at recruitment (T1) and oocyte pick-up day (T2). In the evaluation performed on the day of the oocyte pick-up, depression and trait anxiety scores of the IG were found to be lower than those in the CG, and the effect size was small. Group × time interaction was significant for depression (large effect size) and trait anxiety (small effect size). The estradiol levels, the number of oocytes, transfer status, and pregnancy rates (according to a blood test) were similar between groups. Women receiving IVF treatment who received progressive muscle relaxation and laughter therapy demonstrated psychological changes; however, the treatment did not affect medical outcomes.

Radiotherapy is a common and effective treatment for women with breast cancer. However, radiotherapy has also been shown to adversely affect patients’ emotional well-being. Currently, few mind–body interventions are designed to improve patients’ quality of life during radiotherapy. One intervention which has demonstrated clinical efficacy in the breast cancer radiotherapy setting is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy plus Hypnosis. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy plus Hypnosis on emotional distress in women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to either the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy plus Hypnosis (n = 50) or Attention Control (n = 50) group. Results revealed significant benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy plus Hypnosis on emotional distress at the mid-point (d = 0.54), the conclusion (d = 0.64), and 4 weeks following the conclusion (d = 0.65) of radiotherapy (all ps < 0.05). In summary, results support further study of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy plus Hypnosis as an evidence-based intervention to reduce emotional distress in women with breast cancer. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy plus Hypnosis has the benefits of being brief, noninvasive, lacking side-effects, and producing beneficial effects which last beyond the conclusion of radiotherapy. Given these strengths, we propose that Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy plus Hypnosis is a strong candidate for greater dissemination and implementation in cancer populations.

The slippery slopes of advanced reproductive technologies: Presidential address

Japan has the highest number of cases of infertility treatment in the world. Studies have indicated that women undergoing infertility treatment feel stigmatized and suffer from psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. However, in Japan, few studies have quantitatively examined the association between the stigma of infertility and psychological symptoms, and, to our knowledge, no study has examined its association using a scale with tested reliability and validity. This study aims to quantitatively examine the relationship between infertility stigma and anxiety, depression, and psychological distress among women undergoing infertility treatment, using a scale that has been validated for reliability and validity. The cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2021 through a web-based survey of 254 participants undergoing infertility treatment. A multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between stigma and anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Stigma was a statistically significant predictor of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress (standardized β = 0.58, p < 0.001; β = 0.50, p < 0.001; β = 0.62, p < 0.001, respectively) after controlling for sociodemographic and infertility characteristics. Future studies should examine the causal relationship between stigma and anxiety, depression, and psychological distress and how to intervene to reduce stigma among women undergoing infertility treatment.

The slippery slopes of advanced reproductive technologiesPresidential address