Family planning and psychosocial support for infertile couples.
OBJECTIVE
The study was set up to analyze the psychological/emotional needs of women who undergo treatment for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to emphasize the importance of the psychosocial support that family planning centers can provide to them.


METHODS
This was a cohort study with closed questions. A total of 235 infertile women participating in an IVF program were studied. The statistical analysis of the findings was conducted by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences.


RESULTS
The psychosocial support and the scientific information provided to those women who participate in IVF programs are insufficient. In order to succeed in an IVF program, the women must be assisted by a doctor with much medical experience. The study shows that 59.3% of the women studied sought more medical information and another 32.5% sought emotional support. These percentages varied with reference to education, age and origin. These kinds of services must be provided by family planning centers.
Salakos
N
N
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Family Planning Center, Aretaieio Hospital, University of Athens, Greece.
Roupa
Z
Z
Sotiropoulou
P
P
Grigoriou
O
O
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D004522:Educational Status; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires