Emotional stress and reproduction: what do fertility patients believe?
J Assist Reprod Genet
; 38(4): 877-887, 2021 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33548005
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To better understand the beliefs about a causal role of emotional stress maintained by women seeking fertility care.METHODS:
A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was distributed to fertility care patients at an academic fertility center in Illinois. Of 5000 consecutive patients, 1460 completed the survey and were included in the study sample.RESULTS:
Members of our sample (N = 1460) were between 20 and 58 years (mean = 36.2, SD = 4.4). Most respondents were White (72.2%), were in a heterosexual relationship (86.8%), and felt that their physician understood their cultural background (79.4%). Of the sample, 28.9% believed emotional stress could cause infertility, 69.0% believed emotional stress could reduce success with fertility treatment, and 31.3% believed that emotional stress could cause a miscarriage, with evidence of significant racial differences. Less than a quarter (23.8%) of the sample believed emotional stress had no impact on fertility. Lower household income and educational attainment were associated with a greater belief in emotional stress as a causative factor in reproduction with regard to infertility, fertility treatment, and miscarriage.CONCLUSION:
The majority of women seeking fertility care believe emotional stress could reduce the success of fertility treatment. Furthermore, beliefs about emotional stress and reproduction significantly differ based on race/ethnicity, income, and education. Particular attention should be paid to specific groups of women who may more likely not be aware of the lack of a proven biological relationship between emotional stress and reproduction.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Reprodução
/
Fertilidade
/
Angústia Psicológica
/
Infertilidade
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article