Quality of life for couples 4-5.5 years after unsuccessful IVF treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To describe quality of life in men and women who had terminated in vitro fertilization (IVF) within the public health system 4-5.5 years previously, and for whom treatment did not result in childbirth.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Reproductive Unit, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.


METHODS
Four hundred pairs were invited to participate, 71% accepted and 68% completed questionnaires.


METHODS
Questionnaire study. Study subgroups were compared with a control group with children and with each other.


METHODS
Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB), Sense of Coherence (SOC), experience of infertility, demographic-socio-economic and health characteristics were measured.


RESULTS
Surprisingly, 76.7% had or lived together with children; 39.6% had biological children, 34.8% had adopted and 3.7% were parents to both biological and adopted children. No differences were found between the study and the control groups, except in SOC which scored lower in the study group. The study group with children had a higher PGWB index than the 23.3% without children and the controls. SOC scored higher in the subgroup with than those without children. Infertility was still a central issue in the subgroup without children.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite having undergone unsuccessful IVF within the public health system, more than 75% lived with children 4-5.5 years later. This subgroup had a better quality of life, compared to those without children. Additional IVF treatment may result in increased quality of life.
Johansson
Marianne
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. marianne.ak.johansson@vgregion.se
Adolfsson
Annsofie
A
Berg
Marie
M
Francis
Jynfiaf
J
Hogström
Lars
L
Janson
Per Olof
PO
Sogn
Jan
J
Hellström
Anna-Lena
AL
D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden