Outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and subsequent self-reported life satisfaction.
OBJECTIVE
To compare life satisfaction between women with successful or unsuccessful outcome after assisted reproductive treatment (ART) by taking into account the time since the last ART.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Tertiary hospital.


METHODS
A total of 987 consecutive women who had undergone ART during 1996-2007 were invited and altogether 505 women participated in the study.


METHODS
A postal enquiry with a life satisfaction scale.


METHODS
Self-reported life satisfaction in respect to the time since the last ART.


RESULTS
In general, women who achieved a live birth after ART had a significantly higher life satisfaction than those who had unsuccessful ART, especially when compared in the first three years. The difference disappeared in the time period of 6-9 years after ART. The unsuccessfully treated women who had a child by some other means before or after the unsuccessful ART had comparable life satisfaction with successfully treated women even earlier.


CONCLUSIONS
Even if unsuccessful ART outcome is associated with subsequent lower level of life satisfaction, it does not seem to threaten the long-term wellbeing.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Paula
P
Kuivasaari-Pirinen
Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, South-Savonia Hospital District, Mikkeli, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, SOSTERI, Savonlinna, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, SOTE, Iisalmi, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Lapland Hospital District, Rovaniemi, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Heli
H
Koivumaa-Honkanen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Maritta
M
Hippeläinen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Kaisa
K
Raatikainen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Seppo
S
Heinonen
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011788:Quality of Life; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers