A pilot investigation on possible interactions between clinical parameters and the psychology of couples undergoing IVF

Abstract

Objective To investigate the potential reciprocal influences between in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the psychological states of patients.

Materials and Methods A prospective cohort study involved 180 couples who sought consultation for IVF. To monitor the fluctuations in the emotional states of the couples throughout the IVF process, questionnaires were administered on two separate occasions: the first was conducted immediately before the initiation of medication, and the second was administered promptly following the completion of embryo transfer. The BECK inventories for anxiety and depression were employed for evaluation. Pregnancy outcomes were exclusively analyzed for women who received high-quality blastocysts, with cleavage-stage embryo transfers being excluded from consideration.

Results Pregnancy rates did not significantly differ based on the presence of heightened anxiety and/or depression among couples. Notably, a correlation was identified between severe anxiety in women before IVF and diminished rates of fertilization, as well as lower blastocyst/oocyte and blastocyst/metaphase II (M2) ratios (8.7 ± 5.0 vs. 7.5 ± 6.1, P = 0.029; 0.284 ± 0.199 vs. 0.218 ± 0.209, P = 0.001; and 0.333 ± 0.209 vs. 0.272 ± 0.232, P = 0.016, respectively). In the male cohort, elevated anxiety scores, either pre- or post-IVF treatment, were found to be linked with a reduced mean oocyte count, as well as lower rates of M2, fertilization, blastocyst, and total embryo counts (P < 0.05).

Conclusions Pregnancy rates were not affected by the presence of anxiety and depression, as they do not exert a significant impact on the implantation success of blastocysts. However, given that fertilization rates are statistically diminished in instances of severe anxiety, which consequently results in a reduced number of blastocysts and total embryos, a decline in cumulative pregnancy rates may be anticipated.