title: Relationship and parenthood in IVF couples with twin and singleton pregnancies compared with spontaneous singleton primiparous couples--a prospective 5-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze relationship and parenthood in IVF twin couples, IVF singleton couples, and spontaneously pregnant primiparous couples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Southeast region of Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 24 women and men who became pregnant with twins, consecutively, and expected their first child in 1997-98 were studied. A control IVF group of 94 singleton primiparous IVF couples were used. A group of spontaneous primiparous pregnant women were selected out of the total pregnant population as a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relationship and parenthood measured by questionnaires and interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IVF singleton couples were most stable in their relationship during the whole study period, and the IVF twin parents also seemed more stable and satisfied compared with the control group of spontaneous conception couples. In the control group, 88% had a second child during the study period. In the singleton IVF group the corresponding number was 9%, and none of the twin parents had another child during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the stresses associated with IVF treatment and becoming first-time parents of twins did not have a negative impact on the couples' appreciation of their relationship and parenthood as stated by both men and women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden. gunilla.sydsjo@lio.se
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wadsby
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
authors.forename: Katarina Ekholm
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Selling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D010290:Parents; D010298:Parity; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D014427:Twins