The mental state of women with an IVF pregnancy

Abstract

IntroductionIVF is becoming increasingly widespread, and many infertile couples are success- fully becoming parents through its use. however, participation in an IVF program requires significant physical and psychological inputs. Preparing for IVF includes numerous surveys and intensive hormone therapy. Chances of success are initially about 50% (Gardanova, 2008; Ola & Ledger, 2005); with age the likelihood of pregnancy is reduced. Pregnancy is accompanied by constant risks because with IVF the chance of miscarriage, premature birth, and various somatic complications is higher than in a normal pregnancy (Lebedko, 2013; Sidelnikova, Khodjaeva, Strelchenko, Kiruschenkov, 2005).We can confidently assert that the state of women with an IVF pregnancy is stressful. This stress is noteworthy because the mental state of a woman in pregnancy has a significant effect on its course and outcome (Zakharova & Chuvaeva, 2011). Gardanova (2008) documents a high incidence of anxiety disorders among women preparing for IVF. Peak alarm occurs when they are taking a pregnancy test after IVF.Swedish psychologists have studied women in the first trimester of their pregnancy and have found that the IVF group had a significantly higher level of anxiety associated with the risk of losing a child than the group with spontaneous conception. A long period of infertility contributes to higher anxiety (hjelmstedt, Widstro, Wramsby, Matthiesen, & Collins, 2003). There is evidence that this increased level of anxiety persists throughout the period of pregnancy. A study by Australian psychologists found that IVF women in their third trimester of pregnancy demonstrated higher levels of anxiety associated with the child's health and life than women who conceived naturally (McMahon, Ungerer, Beaurepaire, Tennant, & Saunders, 1997). A Greek study of the coping strategies of women with an IVF pregnancy revealed a positive relationship between a problem-focused strategy and a favorable outcome for the IVF procedure (Gourounti et al., 2012). It also showed a heightened sense of lack of control over their own life, a feeling that increased with the number of IVF attempts.So, when discussing the nature of anxiety among women pregnant after IVF, it can be assumed that the main source is their concern for their child's health and a favorable outcome for their pregnancy. One of the most important factors leading to increased anxiety is, in our opinion, the occurrence of physical complications during pregnancy. Because the probability of complications is higher among IVF women than among women who conceive naturally, we sought to equalize the sample studied according to this parameter. We selected women who conceived naturally and were in the hospital because of their physical problems to participate in the study as a comparison group. Thus, all the study participants, both those with IVF and those with natural conception, encountered medical complications during their pregnancy.The studyObjectivesThe basic objective of the study was to compare the mental state of women with an IVF pregnancy and that of women who conceived naturally. In addition, we conducted an analysis of the possible causes of increased anxiety and the women's resources for coping with anxiety.TechniquesWe chose the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (self-assessment of mental states) (Raigorodskiy, 2001) as a tool for assessing the mental state of pregnant women. The questionnaire consists of 4scales: Anxiety, Frustration, Aggression, and Rigidity. We also used the Emotional State scale of the Filippova questionnaire Style of Pregnancy Experiences (Filippova, 2002). The questionnaire suggests 6 styles of pregnancy experience: adequate, ambivalent, indifferent, euphoric, anxious, and resentful. For increased insight into pregnant women's psychology and possible sources of their anxiety we used the projective drawing technique Drawing of My Child and Me (Zakharova, 2014), in which each participant was asked to draw a picture of herself and her child. …