title: Does emotional support during the luteal phase decrease the stress of in vitro fertilization?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if phone calls between ET and pregnancy test, decrease stress levels as determined by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women undergoing a first fresh cycle of assisted reproductive technology using autologous oocytes with a day 2 or 3 ET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phone calls from specialized social workers or standard of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary outcome was the change in PSS score from day of ET compared with 10 days after ET; secondary outcome was perceived patient benefit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 131 patients were randomized to the intervention (n = 66) or control (n = 65) group. No differences were seen in the final PSS score or the change in PSS score between groups. At the completion of the study, the intervention group was more likely to report that participating in this study was helpful (65.9% vs. 21.4%), as well as to recommend emotional support during an IVF cycle (95.4% vs. 78.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we observed no significant change in PSS score, first-cycle IVF patients felt that increased emotional support was needed during the waiting period between ET and pregnancy test. Additional research should be conducted to determine the best interventions for this time period.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors: Christine C
authors: CC
authors: Skiadas
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: Terry
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: De Pari
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Geoghegan
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Lubetsky
authors: Sherilyn
authors: S
authors: Levy
authors: Florina
authors: F
authors: Haimovici
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Ashby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult