title: Survey of the situation of infertile women seeking in vitro fertilization treatment in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In previous studies, people's knowledge of reproductive health and infertile women's psychological states was surveyed in several countries. However, there has been limited information concerning the psychological states of infertile women seeking treatment and the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertile women were asked to complete short questionnaires on the day that their oocytes were retrieved; these questionnaires covered the durations of their infertility, levels of education, sources of pressure, and psychological states. Data concerning IVF outcomes were provided by embryologists and clinicians. The correlations between the duration of infertility and educational level, psychological state and education level, and psychological state and outcome of IVF were analyzed in the cohort study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration of infertility in more than half of the females was longer than 5 years. Compared with less-educated women, women with higher levels of education sought treatment earlier and their rates of depressive symptoms were lower. There is an association between negative emotions and outcome of IVF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey of the situations of infertile women seeking IVF treatment in China indicates the importance of popularizing knowledge concerning reproductive health. Improving medical conditions, reducing the costs of treatment, and developing social culture will aid in relieving the stress of infertile women and improving assisted reproductive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Center for Assisted Reproduction, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Gongxian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Sisun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Center for Assisted Reproduction, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Center for Assisted Reproduction, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Center for Assisted Reproduction, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Center for Assisted Reproduction, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires