Psychological status of in vitro fertilization patients during pregnancy: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether women who get pregnant as a result of IVF differ psychologically from pregnant women who conceived naturally.


METHODS
Prospective, longitudinal study.


METHODS
Healthy volunteers from outpatient infertility and obstetrics practices.


METHODS
Seventy-four women who became pregnant via IVF and 40 women conceiving without medical intervention.


METHODS
Subjects completed self-report questionnaires about demographic and reproductive history, rewards and concerns of pregnancy, self-esteem, marital adjustment, depressive symptoms, and anxiety at 12 and 28 weeks' gestational age.


METHODS
Self-esteem, depression, and anxiety scores.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between groups on any of the outcome measures assessing psychological status at the two assessment times. Differences were found on specific items assessing the rewards and concerns of pregnancy. Within-group changes over time indicated that IVF women, not controls, showed an increase in self-esteem and a decrease in anxiety during pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnant IVF women are similar psychologically to women who become pregnant naturally on dimensions of self-esteem, depression, and anxiety at 12 and 28 weeks' gestational age. The IVF group, not controls, reported improved self-esteem and decreased anxiety as the pregnancy progressed.
Klock
S C
SC
Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Greenfeld
D A
DA
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008603:Mental Health; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires