Gender differences in factors associated with depression in infertility patients

Abstract

AIMS: To clarify gender differences in the demographic variables and infertility problems associated with depression among men and women undergoing infertility treatment. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: We surveyed 380 women and 360 men undergoing infertility treatment at the reproductive medicine center of a hospital in China's Ningxia Province from March - September 2016. RESULTS: For women, ethnicity, the number of clinic visits, social concern, and sexual concern were factors linked with depression symptoms. For men, treatment cost pressure and social concern were significantly associated with depression symptoms. CONCLUSION: Psychological counseling and intervention programs should be integrated into in-vitro fertilization treatments and interventions should be targeted based on gender differences. IMPACT: The provision of treatment-related sexual knowledge by nurses is indispensable for infertile participants. Mental health policies should be developed to facilitate the implementation of psychological services. Psychological counseling and intervention programs should be integrated into in vitro fertilization treatment to help men and women with infertility cope with psychological distress.