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Psychological stress during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer is influenced by the patients’ background and gender

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Reproductive Medicine and Biology

Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated the changes in psychological stress during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF–ET) and the relationship of such stress to the patients’ background and gender.

Methods

Sixty couples undergoing IVF–ET were administered the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory-JYZ (STAI) test at six different points during IVF–ET procedures. Anxiety scores at each time point were recorded and analyzed according to gender, fertility status, and duration of treatment.

Results

The median state anxiety score for women increased following induction until oocyte collection, after which it temporarily declined and then increased again until the pregnancy test. No such changes were noted in men. Scores for women who had undergone a shorter period of IVF treatments were higher while state and trait anxiety in men increased with a prolonged treatment period. Unsuccessful treatment increased the state and trait anxiety of women.

Conclusions

Psychological stress changed periodically depending on the duration of the patients’ treatment and fertility status also influenced anxiety levels. These findings will prove helpful in guiding psychological therapy and counseling for couples attempting to conceive by in vitro fertilization.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Ms. Ayano Yamamoto for her valuable technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Maternal and Perinatal Medicine, Toyota Memorial Hospital, 1-1 Heiwa-cho, Toyota, Japan

    T. Harata

  2. Department of Maternal and Perinatal Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan

    Maki Goto, A. Iwase & F. Kikkawa

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan

    Maki Goto, A. Iwase, S. Kurotsuchi, A. Sugita, M. Kondo, T. Nakamura, T. Nakahara, S. Takikawa, S. Manabe & F. Kikkawa

  4. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital, 50 Hachiken Nishi, Aotake-cho, Toyohashi, Japan

    H. Ando

  5. Narita Hospital, 1-20-30 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Japan

    M. Osawa

Authors
  1. T. Harata
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  2. Maki Goto
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  3. A. Iwase
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  4. S. Kurotsuchi
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  9. T. Nakamura
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  10. T. Nakahara
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  11. S. Takikawa
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  12. S. Manabe
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  13. F. Kikkawa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maki Goto.

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Harata, T., Goto, M., Iwase, A. et al. Psychological stress during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer is influenced by the patients’ background and gender. Reprod Med Biol 11, 143–148 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-012-0124-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-012-0124-y

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