A Survey of Relationship between Duration of Infertility and Depression among Infertile Women in Beni-Suef Governorate

Research Abstract

Background: Infertility is a very real event for part of millions of people's lives. There is no doubt that infertility is a stressful experience event and has a high impact on, couples’ psychological status. Infertility creates a major and prolonged crisis. It is a stressful condition by creates heavy psychological trauma for the couples. Depression is one of the psychological disturbances which usually associated with infertility. Duration of infertility increases partner's stress; it is being the most important prognostic factor. All of those going through deserve to be heard and guided to psychological and mental health support on this journey. Therefore, the psychological health aspect of infertility needs to be part of every couple's health plan. Aim: Assess relationship between duration of infertility & mood changes and depressive symptoms’. Method: For this study, data were collected through in-depth interviews for convenience of 399 infertile female who were admitted in inpatient wards and/or attending to outpatient gynecological and infertility clinics at University Hospital, Health Insurance Hospital and General Hospital in Beni - Suef city. Results: The findings of this study indicated that, depressive symptoms were severe in infertile women aged between 25- 40 years; the highest percentage of the sample reported severe depressive symptoms when infertility duration more than three years. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that, there is a statistically significant association between duration of infertility and depressive symptoms.

Research Keywords

Infertility, Duration, Depression