Psychophatology Differences Between Pregnant Women who Conceived Naturally and Through Assisted Reproduction

Abstract

Objective:

In the past few decades, new and more efficient techniques to help solve fertility problems have become widely available throughout the developed world. The aim of this study was to determine whether there were differences on psychopathology factors between women who had conceived after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and women who had conceived naturally.

Methods:

The sample was composed of 41 pregnant women of whom 28 women had conceived through assisted reproductive technology (IVF) and 13 had conceived naturally. Women were evaluated by week 20 of pregnancy at the Infanta Cristina University Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, in Badajoz. Women consented to complete the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R).

Results:

IVF women were characterized by higher scores on Anxiety Scale (t = 3.90; p = 0.045) and lower scores on Hostility Scale (t = 4.35; p = 0.041) than women who had conceived naturally. There were no differences in the others scales.

Conclusions:

IVF women appear to present a temperamental profile characterized by a tendency to anxiety. Further research is needed to firstly, confirm these preliminary findings, and secondly, to longitudinally explore its impact on pregnancy outcome and mother-infant attachment.