Aspectos emocionais em reprodução humana assistida: uma revisão integrativa da literatura / Emotional aspects in assisted human reproduction: an integrative literature review

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os aspectos emocionais presentes no processo de reprodução humana assistida (RHA), por meio de uma revisão interativa da literatura. As bases de dados utilizadas foram PubMed, BVS e Periódicos Capes, com os descritores "infertility" AND "reproductive techniques" AND "emotions". Foram incluídos e analisados 24 artigos dos últimos cinco anos (2015 a 2020). Os resultados indicam que existem diversos sentimentos negativos que permeiam os casais infé rteis, especialmente quando existem falhas no tratamento. O apoio social durante o tratamento em RHA melhora a qualidade de vida do casal e diminui o sofrimento emocional. As estratégias de enfrentamento utilizadas pelos casais inférteis e as intervenções terapêuticas também foram avaliadas como positivas para o manejo do estresse, da ansiedade e da depressão. As diferenças de gênero apareceram nos estudos e reiteram a relevância das relações de gênero, indicando a necessidade de intervenções diferentes para homens e mulheres.(AU)

The aim of this work was to analyze the emotional aspects present in the assisted human reproduction (RHA) process, through an interactive literature review. The databases used were PUBMED, BVS and CAPES journals, with the descriptors "infertility" AND « reproductive techniques" AND "emotions." 24 articles from the last five years (2015 to 2020) were included and analyzed. The results indicate that there are several negative feelings that permeate infertile couples, especially when treatment failures, social support during RHA treatment improves the couple's quality of life and reduces emotional distress. The coping strategies used by infertile couples and interventions therapeutics were also evaluated as positive for the management of stress, anxiety and depression. The gender differences appeared in the studies and reiterate the relevance of gender relations, indicating the need for different interventions for men and women.(AU)

The effect of mind-body interventions on psychological and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women: a systematic review.

Preliminary evidence suggests that mind-body interventions, including mindfulness-based interventions and yoga, may be effective in reducing mental health difficulties and psychological distress in infertile patients undergoing fertility treatments. We systematically reviewed and synthesized current medical literature of the effectiveness of mind-body interventions in reducing the severity of psychological distress and improving marital function and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women/couple. Databases including PsychINFO, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies. Manual searches were conducted in relevant articles. We included 12 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Four studies were randomized controlled trials (RCT), 4 non-randomized controlled trial (NRCT), and 4 uncontrolled studies (UCT). Participation in a mind-body intervention was associated with reduced anxiety trait and depression scores. The reduction was of low or moderate amplitude in most studies. Our review offers evidence for the effectiveness of mind-body interventions in reducing anxiety state and depression in infertile women and a possible improvement in pregnancy rate. Further RCTs with a precise timing of intervention are needed.

The impact of complementary therapies on psychosocial factors in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF): A systematic literature review.

AIM: This review evaluates the impact of complementary therapies on psychosocial factors in women undergoing IVF. BACKGROUND: According to the CDC, nearly 7% of married women in the United States face infertility. Approximately 1.5% of all infants born in the U.S. annually are conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as IVF. Women undergoing ART report distress, anxiety, and depression related to their treatment. Stress has been cited as the top reason why women terminate treatment. Complementary therapies, such as mind-body techniques, have been associated with decreasing stress and anxiety. METHODS: CINAHL and PubMED databases were searched for studies 1) published from January 2010 to 2017, 2) written in English, 3) that examined the effect of an complementary therapy on the psychological well-being of women undergoing, or about to be undergoing a cycle of IVF. RESULTS: The search revealed 11 studies published between 2010 and 2015 from a variety of countries. The most common research design was a randomized controlled trial (n=7). The psychosocial factor most frequently measured was anxiety (n=8). The forms of complementary therapy varied, with the most common being Hatha yoga, cognitive behavioral interventions, and mind-body therapies (n=2 each). CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing complementary therapies appears to be a positive way to decrease women's anxiety, depression, distress, and stress, and to increase fertility quality of life. This review informs providers that incorporating complementary therapies into the plan of care can lead to improved psychosocial health outcomes for women undergoing IVF.

Yoga Can Improve Assisted Reproduction Technology Outcomes in Couples With Infertility.

CONTEXT: Depending on the cause of the infertility, nonsurgical or surgical treatments may be used to treat men and women with infertility. Despite improved outcomes due to medical advances, assisted reproductive technology (ART) for couples with infertility is sometimes unsuccessful. Success may be affected by the patient's social, psychological, and physical status. OBJECTIVE: The study examined the effects of yoga-including asanas (yoga poses), pranayama (proper breathing), shavasana, and meditation-on male and female fertility and ART outcomes. DESIGN: The research team performed a literature review, electronically searching for articles published between January 1978 and January 2016 in the PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases. SETTING: The study took place at the Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center at the Avicenna Research Institute at the Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (Tehran, Iran). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were couples with infertility taking part in 87 reviewed studies. INTERVENTION: Yoga was the intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures comprised fertility factors in males and females, fertility rate, and ART success rate. RESULTS: The reviewed studies showed that yoga can provide stress management for patients with infertility, with beneficial effects on fertility, helping couples give birth. They found that yoga also could reduce pain; decrease depression, anxiety, and stress; reduce the rate of assisted vaginal delivery; and improve fetal outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Yoga can help couples overcome infertility and increase the ART success rate by improving the physiological and psychological states of both men and women.

Spiritual aspects of living with infertility: A synthesis of qualitative studies.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To identify the spiritual aspects of patients experiencing infertility and seek a deeper and broader meaning of the involuntary childlessness experience. BACKGROUND: Infertility can be the cause for a spiritual crisis among some couples. Those who endure this involuntary childlessness condition frequently experience contradictory feelings and needs. In this context, core aspects of spirituality such as meaning and purpose in life are often questioned. DESIGN: A review and synthesis of qualitative empirical research was undertaken to seek a deeper understanding of the spiritual aspects of patients' experiences of infertility. METHODS: An aggregative synthesis was conducted according to Saini and Shlonsky (Systematic synthesis of qualitative research, 2012, Oxford University Press, Oxford), using thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies included female, male and couples. Settings revealed interviewees in different infertility phases such as diagnosis, assisted reproductive technologies and following fertility treatments. Two main themes emerged: spiritual needs and spirituality as a coping resource for infertility. CONCLUSION: Infertility affects the holistic existence of the couples. This adversity awakens spiritual needs along with unmet needs of parenthood. Coping strategies incorporating spirituality can enhance the ability of couples to overcome childlessness and suffering. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Infertile couples' experiences of infertility may offer an opportunity for spiritual care particularly related to the assessment of spiritual needs and the promotion of spiritual coping strategies. Effective holistic care should support couples in overcoming and finding meaning in this life and health condition.

Client perspectives of midwifery care in the transition from subfertility to parenthood: a qualitative study in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period after fertility treatment are considered "normal" in the Netherlands, with no indication of an increased obstetric risk, and can therefore be monitored by a primary care midwife. However, there is little evidence on the experiences of couples and women who finally get pregnant after fertility treatment and a lack of training for midwives exists on this subject. The aim of this study was to map the midwifery care needs of the subfertile client with past fertility problems. METHODS: In 2011, we interviewed two couples and seven women who conceived through fertility treatment and received primary midwifery care at some point during their pregnancies. This explorative, qualitative study was based on the interpretivist/constructivist paradigm. RESULTS: Although the participants are not representative of all subfertile clients, the findings of our qualitative study highlight the needs of women and their partners who have become pregnant through fertility treatment including help from the primary care midwife in understanding the likely course of their pregnancy, more psychosocial support and acknowledgement of the fertility treatment history, and more consultations and frequent ultrasound scans than usual to confirm pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study points out that the women who have become pregnant through fertility treatment and their partners communicate seemingly paradoxical prenatal care needs. It can help maternity care providers to optimally meet the care needs of subfertile clients and empower them during their transition from subfertility to parenthood.

Effects and outcomes of third-party reproduction: parents.

Third-party reproduction has introduced a host of changing family constellations. Research has shown that children conceived through third-party reproduction are doing well psychologically and developmentally, but what about their parents? How have they coped with the transition to third-party reproduction? Has the experience impacted their marital stability or the quality of their parenting? This review will address parents of children conceived through oocyte donation, parents of children conceived through gestational surrogacy, and gay male parents of children conceived through oocyte donation and gestational surrogacy.

Quality of life, coping strategies and support needs of women seeking Traditional Chinese Medicine for infertility and viable pregnancy in Australia: a mixed methods approach.

BACKGROUND: Infertility affects about 15% of couples in Western-societies with most progressing to fertility clinics for treatment. Despite being common, infertility is often experienced as a lonely road for affected couples. In this paper we expand on our previously published findings of women's experiences with infertility or difficulty of viable pregnancy who had sought Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy in Australia, and focus on women's quality of life, coping strategies, and support needs. METHODS: We applied mixed methods using the Tuebingen Quality of Life and the COPE questionnaires and in-depth interviews with 25 women with primary or secondary infertility, recurrent miscarriages or unexplained stillbirth, and who had consulted a TCM practitioner. We used a thematic approach to analyse the interviews, and descriptive statistics to evaluate questionnaire responses. RESULTS: Women reported through both questionnaires and interviews compromised quality of life due to the high level of distress, guilt, grief, and frustration caused by infertility. However, our women represented a highly motivated sample, actively seeking alternative support. While the TCM approach to infertility management increased women's sense of personal agency and control through education and continuity of care, the need for greater understanding and support on a societal level remains. CONCLUSIONS: In infertility, ongoing emotional and instrumental support is pivotal to the wellbeing and quality of life of the affected. Traditional Chinese Medicine addresses some support needs in infertility not routinely available in the Western model of care. More peer-led and professional-led support groups are greatly needed for women experiencing infertility to help break isolation and raise awareness of integrative approaches to fertility management.

The evolving world of ART: who are the intended parents and how are their children doing?

Treatment advances in assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as oocyte donation and gestational surrogacy have introduced a new cohort of intended parents and new family constellations. Who these parents are and how their children are doing is the focus of this paper. Special emphasis will be paid to the impact of delayed parenthood on oocyte donation, the increasing numbers of gestational surrogacy participants (intended parents and surrogates), and the growing numbers of gay male couples seeking fatherhood through ART. While it appears that children of these new family constellations are doing well, research is limited and longitudinal studies of their health and well being are needed.

Improving patient-centeredness of fertility care using a multifaceted approach: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Beside traditional outcomes of safety and (cost-)effectiveness, the Institute of Medicine states patient-centeredness as an independent outcome indicator to evaluate the quality of healthcare. Providing patient-centered care is important because patients want to be heard for their ideas and concerns. Healthcare areas associated with high emotions and intensive treatment periods could especially benefit from patient-centered care. How care can become optimally improved in patient-centeredness is unknown. Therefore, we will conduct a study in the context of Dutch fertility care to determine the effects of a multifaceted approach on patient-centeredness, patients' quality of life (QoL) and levels of distress. Our aims are to investigate the effectiveness of a multifaceted approach and to identify determinants of a change in the level of patient-centeredness, patients' QoL and distress levels. This paper presents the study protocol. METHODS/DESIGN: In a cluster-randomized trial in 32 Dutch fertility clinics the effects of a multifaceted approach will be determined on the level of patient-centeredness (Patient-centredness Questionnaire - Infertility), patients' QoL (FertiQoL) and levels of distress (SCREENIVF). The multifaceted approach includes audit and feedback, educational outreach visits and patient-mediated interventions. Potential determinants of a change in patient-centeredness, patients' QoL and levels of distress will be collected by an addendum to the patients' questionnaire and a professionals' questionnaire. The latter includes the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument about the clinic's culture as a possible determinant of an increase in patient-centered care. DISCUSSION: The study is expected to yield important new evidence about the effects of a multifaceted approach on levels of patient-centeredness, patients' QoL and distress in fertility care. Furthermore, determinants associated with a change in these outcome measures will be studied. With knowledge of these results, patient-centered care and thus the quality of healthcare can be improved. Moreover, the results of this study could be useful for similar initiatives to improve the quality of care delivery. The results of this project are expected at the end of 2013. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicialtrials.gov NCT01481064.

Knowledge, perceptions and myths regarding infertility among selected adult population in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The reported prevalence of infertility in Pakistan is approximately 22% with 4% primary and 18% secondary infertility. Infertility is not only a medical but also a social problem in our society as cultural customs and perceived religious dictums may equate infertility with failure on a personal, interpersonal, or social level. It is imperative that people have adequate knowledge about infertility so couples can seek timely medical care and misconceptions can be rectified. We aim to assess the knowledge, perception and myths regarding infertility and suggest ways to improve it. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out by interviewing a sample of 447 adults who were accompanying the patients at two tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. They were interviewed one-on-one with the help of a pretested questionnaire drafted by the team after a thorough literature review and in consultation with infertility specialists. RESULTS: The correct knowledge of infertility was found to be limited amongst the participants. Only 25% correctly identified when infertility is pathological and only 46% knew about the fertile period in women's cycle. People are misinformed that use of IUCD (53%) and OCPs (61%) may cause infertility. Beliefs in evil forces and supernatural powers as a cause of infertility are still prevalent especially amongst people with lower level of education. Seeking alternative treatment for infertility remains a popular option for 28% of the participant as a primary preference and 75% as a secondary preference. IVF remains an unfamiliar (78%) and an unacceptable option (55%). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about infertility is limited in the population and a lot of misconceptions and myths are prevalent in the society. Alternative medicine is a popular option for seeking infertility treatment. The cultural and religious perspective about assisted reproductive technologies is unclear, which has resulted in its reduced acceptability.

Fertility and cancer: psychological support in young women who contemplate emergency assisted reproductive technologies (ART) prior to chemo- and/or radiation-therapy.

PRINCIPLES: Women of reproductive age with cancer fear for their childbearing potential as a result of the cancer itself and chemo- and/or radiation-therapy. METHODS: Starting in 2006, a dedicated task force was set up at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) to handle all cancer and fertility issues and, in certain cases, offer access to emergency assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to preserve further childbearing options. Help provided by the task force was offered within a multidisciplinary framework encompassing psychological counselling offered to each patient or couple. RESULTS: We report here the salient points of the experience gained through dedicated psychological counselling offered to cancer patients concerned about their future fecundity. This was done with the intention of underscoring the most clinically relevant lessons learned through our experience at CHUV. CONCLUSIONS: The specific 'cancer and fertility' counselling instituted at CHUV offers support for young women or couples confronted with stressful cancer and fertility issues. This type of specific counselling, the resource counselling, appears to be a particularly appropriate tool for patients abruptly involved in difficult decision-making processes under time constraints and thus extremely vulnerable. The personal feedbacks from the patients also confirm the importance of offering specific counselling and timely psychological support of the type reported here to all women of reproductive age before starting chemo- and/or radiation-therapy.

[Sophrology: a different tool for infertile couples]. / La sophrologie caycédienne: une autre approche du couple infertile.

Because of the high degree of complexity of assisted reproduction techniques (ART), the human and conscious dimensions of infertility problems are often neglected. Different strategies may help infertile couples coping with infertility and related treatments; among these, Caycedian sophrology relies on the cognitive, emotional, and somatic aspects of consciousness. In the present article, the authors report on their experience with sophrologic support for infertile patients by a midwife qualified in caycedian sophrology. Overall, since 1988, 310 couples have benefied from this kind of support, with an average of 10 sophrologic trainings per patient. Whereas some couples consider sophrology as a short time training to better cope with any particular aspect of their infertility treatment, others want to undertake more profound work on their body scheme. The authors wish to call the attention of ART professionals to this kind of medical support for infertile couples, and also to the particular role of midwives with sophrologic competence in an ART center.