Stress and Quality of Life for Taiwanese Women Who Underwent Infertility Treatment

Abstract

Objective: To describe the psychological stress and quality of life experienced by women who underwent fertility treatment in Taiwan.

Design: Cross-sectional, correlational study.

Setting: Recruitment was conducted and questionnaires administered at a reproductive medicine center in Chiayi City, Taiwan.

Participants: Informed consent to participate was obtained from 126 women who sought fertility treatment at the center.

Methods: The Chinese Fertility Problem Inventory and Fertility Quality of Life scale were used to measure participants' levels of fertility-related stress and fertility-related quality of life. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis were used.

Results: Overall, participants reported low levels of fertility-related stress and fertility-related quality of life; however, they had relatively high levels of stress related to need for parenthood. Women who were older, had greater body mass indexes, and consumed coffee regularly had lower fertility-related quality of life. Social and relationship concerns and stress related to need for parenthood were significant predictors of low fertility-related quality of life.

Conclusion: In a culture in which childbearing is generally an expectation and an important part of family life, women who experience infertility are at risk to experience fertility-related stress. Social support and family consultation might be offered to improve women's fertility-related quality of life.

Keywords: Taiwanese; fertility-related quality of life; fertility-related stress; infertility; women.