Effect of IVF failure on quality of life and emotional status in infertile couples.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of a previous IVF failure on the quality of life and emotional distress, in couples undergoing IVF treatment. Experiencing IVF failure might cause differences on the anxiety-depression and quality of life scores of the couples, compared to the ones who were undergoing IVF treatment for the first time.


METHODS
This study included 64 couples who had previously experienced at least one IVF failure (Group 1) and 56 couples without history of IVF failure (Group 2) in a private Assisted Reproductive Center, Istanbul, Turkey. A sociodemographic data form, the FertiQoL International and Hospital Anxiety (HAD-A) and Depression scale (HAD-D) for evaluating the status of distress, were administered for the study.


RESULTS
FertiQoL scores were compared between the groups, the environment scale of the quality of life in treatment section was found to be significantly higher in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (p=0.009). The HAD-A and HAD-D scores did not differ significantly between the groups. Group-variables were investigated using multilevel analysis, the infertility duration and income level were found to have an effect on the subscales of quality of life (p=0.009 and p=0.001 respectively) in Group 2. Depression scores were higher in couples with infertility duration of below five years in Group 1 and Group 2 compared to couples with infertility duration of five years or above (MANOVA analysis). The level of education was found to affect the scores of HAD-D in Group 2, but not in Group 1 (p=0.011). The score of HAD-D was significantly affected by the family type only in Group 2 (p=0.009); the depression score of the couples living with a nuclear family was found to be higher compared with the couples living in a traditional family (p=0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
Fertility-specific quality of life scores reveals better results regarding the orientation to the treatment environment in the couples with a previous IVF failure, compared to first IVF cycle couples. Treatment failure does not elevate the level of anxiety, while the effect on depression scores changes according to duration of infertility.
Bezmialem Vakif University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: karacanilay@hotmail.com.
Nilay
N
Karaca
Pamukkale University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Denizli, Turkey.
Aysun
A
Karabulut
Pamukkale University, Denizli Health Services Vocational College, Denizli, Turkey.
Sevgi
S
Ozkan
Medipol University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hale
H
Aktun
Haseki Training Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Fatma
F
Orengul
Bezmialem Vakif University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Rabiye
R
Yilmaz
Bezmialem Vakif University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Seda
S
Ates
Bezmialem Vakif University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Gonca
G
Batmaz
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014421:Turkey
Anxiety; Depression; FertiQoL; Unsuccesful IVF treatment