Prevalence and predictors of infertility-specific stress in women diagnosed with primary infertility: A clinic-based study

TLDR

Infertility is widely linked to stress, yet the prevalence and predictors of infertility‑specific stress in culturally specific settings remain poorly documented. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of infertility‑specific stress and its predictors among women with primary infertility. A cross‑sectional survey of 300 married women with primary infertility used a semi‑structured questionnaire, ICD‑10 criteria, and a psychological evaluation test, with data analyzed by chi‑square and multivariate logistic regression in SPSS. Stress was present in 80% of participants; multivariate analysis identified infertility type and coping difficulties as the strongest predictors.

Abstract

<b>BACKGROUND:</b> According to the existing literature on infertility, stress appears to be inevitably associated with infertility diagnosis and treatment in sub-fertile individuals. The epidemiological data on the prevalence and predictors of infertility-specific stress in cultural specific scenario are scarce. The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of infertility-specific stress and identify predictors of infertility-specific stress in women diagnosed with primary infertility. <b>MATERIALS AND METHODS:</b> This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 infertile married women, diagnosed with primary infertility. The tools used for the assessment were "semi-structured questionnaire " compiled by the authors, "ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders (Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines), " and "Psychological Evaluation Test for infertility. " <b>STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:</b> Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 15). Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis followed by multiple logistic regressions between stress and the predictor variables. <b>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:</b> The prevalence of stress among women was 80%. Univariate analysis revealed that predictors of stress were years of marital life, duration of infertility, infertility type, history of gynecological surgery, cycles of ovulation induction with timed intercourse and intra-uterine inseminations, present and past psychiatric morbidity, coping difficulties, gynecological diagnosis, and severity of premenstrual dysphoria. Multivariate analysis showed leading associations of stress with infertility type and coping difficulties.