Psychological status of infertile patients who had in vitro fertilization treatment interrupted or postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 145 - 152
• Main Authors: Barra, Fabio, La Rosa, Valentina Lucia, Vitale, Salvatore Giovanni, Commodari, Elena, Altieri, Michele, Scala, Carolina, Ferrero, Simone
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.04.2022; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - psychology; Humans; Infertility; Infertility, Female - epidemiology; Infertility, Female - psychology; Infertility, Female - therapy; IVF; Male; Pandemics; COVID-19; IVF; anxiety; depression; Infertility
• DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2020.1853095
• ISSN: 0167-482X; 1743-8942

To explore the psychological status of infertile women and men who had in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment interrupted or postponed because of the COVID-19 emergency. An electronic survey (NCT04395755) was e-mailed between April and June 2020 to couples whose IVF treatments have been interrupted or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The presence and severity of symptoms suggestive of anxiety and/or depression were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Subjects with preexisting psychiatric disorders were excluded. Overall, 524 out of 646 patients completed the survey. The prevalence of anxiety and/or depression feelings was significantly higher in women, mainly if aged more than 35 years and with a previous IVF attempt. The occurrence of these psychological symptoms was significantly associated with the time spent on COVID-19 related news per day and partner with evidence of psychological disorder and, in females, with a diagnosis of poor ovarian reserve, diagnosis of endometriosis or uterine fibroids. The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the infertile couples who should have undergone IVF treatment has been significant. IVF centers should systematically offer these couples adequate psychological counseling to improve mental health.