title: The impact of stress and psychosocial interventions on assisted reproductive technology outcome.
abstract: In natural cycles of attempted conception, stress has been shown to predict lower conception rates. The objective of this article is to determine whether stress affects the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART) as well. In addition, this article analyzes the effect that psychosocial interventions targeting the reduction of stress have on ART outcomes. This review examined available PubMed articles published in the past 15 years, and 28 articles were included. Looking specifically at numbers of women studied, stress appears to negatively affect ART outcome; interventions targeting stress reduction appear beneficial. Because stress appears to negatively affect ART outcome, and psychosocial interventions do not have detrimental effects, screening for stress should occur and some type of intervention considered during the ART process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48207, USA. mmorreale@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morreale
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balon
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tancer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016387:Women's Health