Psychological impact of suspension/postponement of fertility treatments on infertile women waiting during COVID pandemic

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

ObjectiveTo assess the psychological impact of suspension/postponement of various fertility treatments on infertile womenduring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted as an online survey among infertile women consulting either throughteleconsultation or physical consultation at a fertility clinic of a tertiary care referral unit. A validated questionnairewas given as a WhatsApp link to the women who were consulting for the resumption of services. Questions askedwere based on their socio-demographic parameters, fertility treatment at the time of suspension, anxiety (selfreported)and stress (perceived stress scale-4, PSS-4) due to delay in treatment, psychosocial effect of pandemic, andwishes regarding the resumption of fertility services.
ResultsOf 430 patients who received the questionnaire, 250 completed the survey (response rate: 58%). The mean ageof participants was 29.26±4.18 years and the majority (70.4%) had lower socioeconomic status. The average PSS-4score was 7.8±0.71, and the prevalence of self-reported anxiety was 72%. Those who suffered migration during thepandemic had significantly higher PSS-4 scores, and increasing age was associated with increased self-reported anxietydue to the suspension of fertility services. The top three priorities reported were infertility and treatment delay (48.4%),job loss (19.2%), and the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection (16%). The degree of spousal support was significantlycorrelated with lower PSS-4 scores (r=-0.30, P<0.01). On multivariate logistic analysis, duration of infertility, delayin treatment due to suspension of services, and fear of COVID-19 infection were significant predictors of stress andanxiety.
ConclusionThis study emphasizes the need to investigate psychosocial health and to provide psychological support to thisvulnerable population in addition to triaging fertility treatments in a phased manner.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 Roberts L, "Women and infertility in a pronatalist culture : mental health in the slums of mumbai" 12 : 993-1003, 2020

2 World Health Organization, "WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the mission briefing on COVID-19" WHO

3 Slade P, "The relationship between perceived stigma, disclosure patterns, support and distress in new attendees at an infertility clinic" 22 : 2309-2317, 2007

4 Kiani Z, "The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in infertile women : a systematic review and meta-analysis" 6 : 7-, 2020

5 Turocy J, "The emotional impact of the ASRM guidelines on fertility patients during the COVID-19 pandemic"

6 Dawel A, "The effect of COVID-19 on mental health and wellbeing in a representative sample of australian adults" 11 : 579985-, 2020

7 Irudaya Rajan S, "The COVID-19 Pandemic and internal labour migration in india : a ‘crisis of mobility’" 63 : 1021-1039, 2020

8 Marom Haham L, "Suspension of fertility treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic : views, emotional reactions and psychological distress among women undergoing fertility treatment" 42 : 849-848, 2021

9 Wani RT, "Socioeconomic status scales-modified Kuppuswamy and Udai Pareekh’s scale updated for 2019" 8 : 1846-1849, 2019

10 Lorant V, "Socioeconomic inequalities in depression : a meta-analysis" 157 : 98-112, 2003

11 Seifer DB, "Psychological experience and coping strategies of patients in the Northeast US delaying care for infertility during the COVID-19 pandemic" 19 : 28-, 2021

12 American Society for Reproductive Medicine, "Patient management and clinical recommendations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic" American Society for Reproductive Medicine

13 Boivin J, "Patient experiences of fertility clinic closure during the COVID-19 pandemic : appraisals, coping and emotions" 35 : 2556-2566, 2020

14 Kallol Kumar Roy ; Rakhi Rai ; Rinchen Zangmo ; Archana Kumari ; Nilofar Noor ; Deepali Garg, "Laparoscopic gynecological surgery in COVID-19 pandemic" 대한산부인과학회 64 (64): 322-326, 2021

15 Esposito V, "Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of infertile couples" 253 : 148-153, 2020

16 Vaughan DA, "Infertility remains a top stressor despite the COVID-19pandemic" 41 : 425-427, 2020

17 Ćosić K, "Impact of human disasters and COVID-19 pandemic on mental health : potential of digital psychiatry" 32 : 25-31, 2020

18 Wang C, "Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease(COVID-19)epidemic among the general population in China" 17 : 1729-, 2020

19 El Kissi Y, "General psychopathology, anxiety, depression and self-esteem in couples undergoing infertility treatment : a comparative study between men and women" 167 : 185-189, 2013

20 Ben-Kimhy R, "Fertility patients under COVID-19 : attitudes, perceptions and psychological reactions" 35 : 2774-2783, 2020

21 Durankuş F, "Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and depressive symptoms in pregnant women : a preliminary study" 35 : 205-211, 2022

22 Pandey V, "Covid-19 in India: why second coronavirus wave is devastating"

23 Gupta M, "Anxieties and apprehensions among women waiting for fertility treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic" 152 : 441-443, 2021

24 Erdem K, "A sectional study : the relationship between perceived social support and depression in Turkish infertile women" 8 : 303-314, 2014

25 Blake P, "2020 year in review: the impact of COVID-19 in 12 charts"