Emotional stress and reproduction: what do fertility patients believe?
Fertility
Internet resources
MAR
Medically assisted reproduction
Racial disparities
Stress
Journal
Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics
ISSN: 1573-7330
Titre abrégé: J Assist Reprod Genet
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 9206495
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Apr 2021
Apr 2021
Historique:
received:
29
11
2020
accepted:
18
01
2021
pubmed:
7
2
2021
medline:
14
8
2021
entrez:
6
2
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
To better understand the beliefs about a causal role of emotional stress maintained by women seeking fertility care. A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was distributed to fertility care patients at an academic fertility center in Illinois. Of 5000 consecutive patients, 1460 completed the survey and were included in the study sample. Members of our sample (N = 1460) were between 20 and 58 years (mean = 36.2, SD = 4.4). Most respondents were White (72.2%), were in a heterosexual relationship (86.8%), and felt that their physician understood their cultural background (79.4%). Of the sample, 28.9% believed emotional stress could cause infertility, 69.0% believed emotional stress could reduce success with fertility treatment, and 31.3% believed that emotional stress could cause a miscarriage, with evidence of significant racial differences. Less than a quarter (23.8%) of the sample believed emotional stress had no impact on fertility. Lower household income and educational attainment were associated with a greater belief in emotional stress as a causative factor in reproduction with regard to infertility, fertility treatment, and miscarriage. The majority of women seeking fertility care believe emotional stress could reduce the success of fertility treatment. Furthermore, beliefs about emotional stress and reproduction significantly differ based on race/ethnicity, income, and education. Particular attention should be paid to specific groups of women who may more likely not be aware of the lack of a proven biological relationship between emotional stress and reproduction.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33548005
doi: 10.1007/s10815-021-02079-3
pii: 10.1007/s10815-021-02079-3
pmc: PMC8079591
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
877-887Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
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