Infertility
One in six Canadian women will struggle with infertility during their reproductive lives – half of these women will report that infertility is the most upsetting experience of their lives and 30-40% will develop clinical depression or anxiety as a result. Furthermore, the few treatments that are available have been shown to be largely ineffective in reducing infertility distress, depressive symptoms, and marital functioning. Therefore, there is a need for a new treatment that better addresses the unique challenges that women face when struggling with infertility.
Thanks to funding by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) and Saskatchewan Center for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR), our research has identified the unique psychological challenges that individuals face as they struggle to conceive. With a panel of patient advocates, we developed a tailored psychological intervention that is more effective at reducing infertility-related distress than what is currently available.
​
​
Infertility-Related Distress
Objectives An estimated 30%–40% of women attending infertility tertiary care facilities experience clinically significant depression and anxiety. However, current psychological interventions for infertility are only modestly effective in this population. In this study, we aimed to identify the specific psychlogical components of infertility-related distress to assist in the development of a more targeted and effective therapeutic intervention. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to include the views and opinions of mental health professionals who specialise in the field of infertility and the first to explore therapies currently used by mental health professionals.
Design A qualitative approach using semistructured individual interviews and focus group interviews with women who have experience with infertility and also mental health professionals specialising in the field of infertility. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes emerging from the data.
Participants Twenty-one women (aged 25–41 years) struggling to conceive for ≥12 months and 14 mental health professionals participated in semistructured interviews about the psychological challenges related to infertility.
Results Five themes, each divided into subthemes, emerged from the data and these were developed into a model of infertility-related distress. These five themes are: (1) anxiety, (2) mood disturbance, (3) threat to self-esteem, identity and purpose, (4) deterioration of the couple and (5) weakened support network. In addition, therapeutic techniques used by mental health professionals were identified.
Conclusions The results of this study suggest specific clinical targets that future interventions treating infertility-related distress should address.
en attending infertility tertiary care facilities experience clinically significant depression and anxiety. However, current psychological interventions for infertility are only modestly effective in this population. In this study, we aimed to identify the specific psychological components of infertility-related distress to assist in the development of a more targeted and effective therapeutic intervention. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to include the views and opinions of mental health professionals who specialise in the field of infertility and the first to explore therapies currently used by mental health professionals.
Design A qualitative approach using semistructured individual interviews and focus group interviews with women who have experience with infertility and also mental health professionals specialising in the field of infertility. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes emerging from the data.
Participants Twenty-one women (aged 25–41 years) struggling to conceive for ≥12 months and 14 mental health professionals participated in semistructured interviews about the psychological challenges related to infertility.
Results Five themes, each divided into subthemes, emerged from the data and these were developed into a model of infertility-related distress. These five themes are: (1) anxiety, (2) mood disturbance, (3) threat to self-esteem, identity and purpose, (4) deterioration of the couple and (5) weakened support network. In addition, therapeutic techniques used by mental health professionals were identified.
Conclusions The results of this study suggest specific clinical targets that future interventions treating infertility-related distress should address.
1
Anxiety
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
2
Mood disturbance
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
3
Threat to identity, self-esteem, and purpose
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
4
Deterioration of the couple
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
5
Weakened support network
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Anxiety
Threat to identity, self-esteem, and purpose
Weakened support network
Mood disturbance
Deterioration of the couple
The Coping with Infertility Program
The Coping with Infertility Program is a seven-week online self-help program designed to help individuals cope with the unique challenges that may arise when struggling to conceive. In a recent pilot study with 21 women experiencing infertility, this program greatly improved their emotional well-being while decreasing depression and anxiety symptoms.
The program involves watching one 10-minute video per week and completing an activity such as practicing new ways of thinking, incorporating helpful activities into your day, or talking to a loved one about how to support you.
We are currently recruiting participants for a large research study testing the effectiveness of the program!
Want to participate?
You may be eligible to be in our study if you are:
​
-
assigned female at birth
-
over the age of 18
-
pursuing fertility treatments or have been trying to conceive for 12+ months
Participation involves compensation of up to $140.
Please email us at rmh.research@uregina.ca for more details.
This study is conducted by Megan Poulter, BA (Hons) and Jennifer Gordon, PhD. It has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and was approved by the University of Regina Research Ethics Board.
