Guidelines for the provision of psychological evaluations for infertile patients at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
OBJECTIVE
Because of the psychologically demanding nature of infertility treatment, it has been recommended that psychological services be made available to infertile patients. However, no specific guidelines for the scope or usage of those services has been proposed. Our objective was to formulate guidelines to be used at our institution to provide psychological evaluations to infertility patients.


METHODS
The guidelines were formulated through discussions between the division psychologist and attendings and then presented to and modified by the University Ethics, Risk Management, Legal, and Institutional Review Board departments.


METHODS
The University of Connecticut Health Center Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility provides tertiary level care to infertility patients. Services include assisted reproductive technologies and donor gamete programs. Surrogate parenting is not a provided service.


RESULTS
Guidelines for the provision and use of psychological services for infertility patients were formulated.


CONCLUSIONS
These guidelines are preliminary in nature and intended to provide a starting point for discussion among physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals regarding the psychological needs of infertility patients.
Klock
S C
SC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington.
Maier
D
D
D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015181:Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D007258:Informed Consent; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous; D008297:Male; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D010063:Ovum; D018579:Patient Selection; D012067:Religion; D015406:Single Parent; D012944:Social Support; D013094:Spermatozoa; D014019:Tissue Donors