Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Infertility, New Reproductive Technologies, and Women’s Mental Health

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Mental Health and Illness of Women

Part of the book series: Mental Health and Illness Worldwide ((MHIW))

  • 95 Accesses

Abstract

Most women want to have children, but for some achieving a pregnancy when it is desired is either difficult and prolonged or impossible. Estimating the population prevalence of fertility difficulties or involuntary childlessness is hampered by varied definitions, but in all nations, a proportion of adults of reproductive age will experience infertility. It is a heterogeneous group of reproductive health problems usually defined as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after at least a year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Some fertility difficulties are attributable to female, some to male, and some to shared causes, and some are regarded as idiopathic or unexplained. In high-income countries, it is estimated that about 15% of people of reproductive age will seek medical assistance to conceive. Inability to conceive is highly emotionally distressing. The distress is variously conceptualized as an existential crisis, disenfranchised grief or an adjustment reaction. The nature and intensity of emotional distress varies over the course of infertility treatment. At diagnosis, acute symptoms of distress may increase, but the initiation of treatment arouses optimism that the condition may be assisted or ultimately alleviated. Treatments with assisted reproductive technologies are physically demanding and can be experienced as invasive and accompanied by successive feelings of hope and despair, which are exacerbated when several treatment cycles are undertaken. Couples can experience isolation from the “fertile world” and experience envy when learning of other women’s pregnancies or celebrations of births. Among those who conceive, idealization of parenthood might prevent consideration of the inevitable losses associated with having a baby, and might limit support seeking. After treatment has ceased, those who have not conceived are less satisfied overall with their lives than those who had baby.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aghanwa HS, Dare FO, Ogunniyi SO (1999) Sociodemographic factors in mental disorders associated with infertility in Nigeria. J Psychosom Res 46(2):117–123

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allison GH (1997) Motherhood, motherliness, and psychogenic infertility. Psychoanal Q 66(1):1–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson K, Nisenblat V, Norman R (2010) Lifestyle factors in people seeking infertility treatment – a review. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 50(1):8–20

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews FM, Abbey A, Halman LJ (1992) Is fertility-problem stress different? The dynamics of stress in fertile and infertile couples. Fertil Steril 57(6):1247–1253

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett B, Lockhart K, Bernard D, Manicavasagar V, Dudley M (1993) Mood disorders among mothers of infants admitted to a mothercraft hospital. J Paediatr Child Health 29(4):270–275

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beaurepaire J, Jones M, Thiering P, Saunders D, Tennant C (1994) Psychosocial adjustment to infertility and its treatment: male and female responses at different stages of IVF/ET treatment. J Psychosom Res 38(3):229–240

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benyamini Y, Gefen-Bardarian Y, Gozlan M, Tabiv G, Shiloh S, Kokia E (2008) Coping specificity: the case of women coping with infertility treatments. Psychol Health 23(2):221–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beral V, Rolfs R, Joesoef MR, Aral S, Cramer DW (1994) Primary infertility: characteristics of women in North America according to pathological findings. J Epidemiol Community Health 48(6):576–579

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Berg BJ, Wilson JF (1990) Psychiatric morbidity in the infertile population: a reconceptualization. Fertil Steril 53(4):654–661

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boivin J, Bunting L, Collins JA, Nygren KG (2007) International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment-seeking: potential need and demand for infertility medical care. Hum Reprod 22(6):1506–1512

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boivin J, Griffiths E, Venetis CA (2011) Emotional distress in infertile women and failure of assisted reproductive technologies: meta-analysis of prospective psychosocial studies. BMJ 342:d223

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bydlowski M, Dayan-Lintzer M (1988) A psycho-medical approach to infertility: ‘suffering from sterility’. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 9(2):139–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callan VJ, Hennessey JF (1988a) Emotional aspects and support in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer programs. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf 5(5):290–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Callan VJ, Hennessey JF (1988b) The psychological adjustment of women experiencing infertility. Br J Med Psychol 61(Pt 2):137–140

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen TH, Chang SP, Tsai CF, Juang KD (2004) Prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in an assisted reproductive technique clinic. Hum Reprod 19(10):2313–2318

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christie GL (1994) The psychogenic factor in infertility. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 28(3):378–390

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cobo A, Garcia-Velasco JA, Domingo J, Remohí J, Pellicer A (2013) Is vitrification of oocytes useful for fertility preservation for age-related fertility decline and in cancer patients? Fertil Steril 99(6):1485–1495

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins JA (1994) Reproductive technology – the price of progress. N Engl J Med 331(4):270–271

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cousineau TM, Domar AD (2007) Psychological impact of infertility. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 21(2):293–308

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daly I, Bewley S (2013) Reproductive ageing and conflicting clocks: King Midas’ touch. Reprod Biomed Online 27(6):722–732

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dancet EA, Van Empel IW, Rober P, Nelen WL, Kremer JA, D’Hooghe TM (2011) Patient-centred infertility care: a qualitative study to listen to the patient’s voice. Hum Reprod 26(4):827–833

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deka PK, Sarma S (2010) Psychological aspects of infertility. Br J Med Pract 3(3):336

    Google Scholar 

  • Downey J, McKinney M (1992) The psychiatric status of women presenting for infertility evaluation. Am J Orthopsychiatry 62(2):196–205

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edelmann R, Connolly K, Cooke I, Robson J (1991) Psychogenic infertility: some findings. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 12(2):163–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Kissi Y, Romdhane AB, Hidar S, Bannour S, Ayoubi Idrissi K, Khairi H, Ben Hadj Ali B (2013) General psychopathology, anxiety, depression and self-esteem in couples undergoing infertility treatment: a comparative study between men and women. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 167(2):185–189

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eugster A, Vingerhoets AJ (1999) Psychological aspects of in vitro fertilization: a review. Soc Sci Med 48(5):575–589

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher J (2009) Infertility and assisted reproduction. In: JRW F, Cabral de Mello M, Saxena S (eds) Mental health aspects of women’s reproductive health: a global review of the literature. World Health Organization and United Nations Population Fund, Geneva, pp 128–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher J, Feekery CJ, Amir LH, Sneddon M (2002) Health and social circumstances of women admitted to a private mother baby unit. A descriptive cohort study. Aust Fam Physician 31(10):966–970. 973

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher J, Rowe H, Hammarberg K (2011) Admission of women, with their infants, for psychological and psychiatric causes in Victoria, Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health 35(2):146–150

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher J, Rowe H, Hammarberg K (2012) Admissions for early parenting difficulties among women with infants conceived by assisted reproductive technologies: a prospective cohort study. Fertil Steril 97(6):1410–1416

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franco JG, Baruffi RLR, Mauri AL, Petersen CG, Felipe V, Garbellini E (2002) Psychological evaluation test after the use of assisted reproduction techniques. J Assist Reprod Genet 19(6):274–278

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Garrido N, Bellver J, Remohi J, Simon C, Pellicer A (2011) Cumulative live-birth rates per total number of embryos needed to reach newborn in consecutive in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles: a new approach to measuring the likelihood of IVF success. Fertil Steril 96(1):40–46

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gleicher N, Campbell DP, Chan CL, Karande V, Rao R, Balin M, Pratt D (1995) Infertility: the desire for multiple births in couples with infertility problems contradicts present practice patterns. Human Reproduction 10(5):1079–1084

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldfarb J, Kinzer DJ, Boyle M, Kurit D (1996) Attitudes of in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination couples toward multiple gestation pregnancy and multifetal pregnancy reduction. Fertil Steril 65(4):815–820

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greil AL (1997) Infertility and psychological distress: a critical review of the literature. Soc Sci Med 45(11):1679–1704

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greil AL, Slauson-Blevins K, McQuillan J (2010) The experience of infertility: a review of recent literature. Sociol Health Illn 32(1):140–162

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greil A, McQuillan J, Slauson-Blevins K (2011) The social construction of infertility. Sociol Compass 5(8):736–746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammarberg K (2018) Fertility preservation in women for social reasons. In: Encyclopedia of reproduction, Elsevier Science Direct, pp 259–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammarberg K, Astbury J, Baker H (2001) Women’s experience of IVF: a follow-up study. Hum Reprod 16(2):374–383

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammarberg K, Fisher J, Wynter K (2008) Psychological and social aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and the first postpartum year after ART: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update 14:395–414

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammarberg K, Rowe H, Fisher J (2009) Early post-partum adjustment and admission to parenting services in Victoria, Australia after assisted conception. Hum Reprod 24(11):2801–2809

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammarberg K, Fisher JR, Wynter KH, Rowe HJ (2011) Breastfeeding after assisted conception: a prospective cohort study. Acta Paediatr 100(4):529–533

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hart VA (2002) Infertility and the role of psychotherapy. Issues Ment Health Nurs 23(1):31–41

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan MA, Killick SR (2003) Effect of male age on fertility: evidence for the decline in male fertility with increasing age. Fertil Steril 79(Suppl 3):1520–1527

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Himmel W, Meyer J, Kochen MM, Michelmann HW (2005) Information needs and visitors’ experience of an Internet expert forum on infertility. J Med Internet Res 7(2):e20

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Holton S, Fisher J, Rowe H (2011) To have or not to have? Australian women’s childbearing desires, expectations and outcomes. J Popul Res 28(4):353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inhorn MC (2003) Global infertility and the globalization of new reproductive technologies: illustrations from Egypt. Soc Sci Med 56(9):1837–1851

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Inhorn MC, Buss KA (1994) Ethnography, epidemiology and infertility in Egypt. Soc Sci Med 39(5):671–686

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Inhorn MC, Patrizio P (2015) Infertility around the globe: new thinking on gender, reproductive technologies and global movements in the 21st century. Hum Reprod Update 21(4):411–426

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson M, Everitt B (2000) Adult ovarian function. Essential reproduction. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson M, Everitt B (2007) Testicular function in the adult. Essential reproduction. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, p 64

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr J, Brown C, Balen AH (1999) The experiences of couples who have had infertility treatment in the United Kingdom: results of a survey performed in 1997. Hum Reprod 14(4):934–938

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kipper DA, Zigler-Shani Z, Serr DM, Insler V (1977) Psychogenic infertility, neuroticism and the feminine role: a methodological inquiry. J Psychosom Res 21(5):353–358

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkman, Hammarberg (2014) Assisted reproductive technology. In: The Wiley Blackwell encyclopedia of health, illness, behavior, and society, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, pp 97–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Kols A, Nguyen T (1997) Infertility in developing countries. Reprod Health Outlook 15(3):1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs G, MacLachlan V, Brehny S (2001) What is the probability of conception for couples entering an IVF program? Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 41(2):207–209

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lalos A, Lalos O, Jacobsson L, von Schoultz B (1985) Psychological reactions to the medical investigation and surgical treatment of infertility. Gynecol Obstet Investig 20(4):209–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leiblum SR, Kemmann E, Taska L (1990) Attitudes toward multiple births and pregnancy concerns in infertile and non-infertile women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology 11(3):197–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Lintsen AME, Verhaak CM, Eijkemans MJC, Smeenk JMJ, Braat DDM (2009) Anxiety and depression have no influence on the cancellation and pregnancy rates of a first IVF or ICSI treatment. Hum Reprod 24(5):1092–1098

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litt MD, Tennen H, Affleck G, Klock S (1992) Coping and cognitive factors in adaptation to in vitro fertilization failure. J Behav Med 15(2):171–187

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch CD, Sundaram R, Buck Louis GM, Lum KJ, Pyper C (2012) Are increased levels of self-reported psychosocial stress, anxiety, and depression associated with fecundity? Fertil Steril 98(2):453–458

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maheshwari A, Hamilton M, Bhattacharya S (2008) Effect of female age on the diagnostic categories of infertility. Hum Reprod 23(3):538–542

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malin M, Hemminki E, Räikkönen O, Sihvo S, Perälä M-L (2001) What do women want? Women’s experiences of infertility treatment. Soc Sci Med 53(1):123–133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mascarenhas MN, Flaxman SR, Boerma T, Vanderpoel S, Stevens GA (2012) National, regional, and global trends in infertility prevalence since 1990: a systematic analysis of 277 health surveys. PLoS Med 9(12):e1001356

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Menning BE (1982) The psychosocial impact of infertility. Nurs Clin North Am 17(1):155–163

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mertes H (2013) The portrayal of healthy women requesting oocyte cryopreservation. Facts, views & vision in ObGyn, 5(2):141

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills M, Rindfuss RR, McDonals P, te Velde E (2011) Why do people postpone parenthood? Reasons and social policy incentives. Hum Reprod Update 17(6):848–860

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Möller A, Fallström K (1991) Psychological factors in the etiology of infertility: a longitudinal study. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 12(1):13–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ombelet W, Devroey P, Gianaroli L, te Velde E (2008) Developing countries and infertility. Human Reprod (Spec Issue):1–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Pantesco V (1986) Nonorganic infertility: some research and treatment problems. Psychol Rep 58(3):731–737

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pasch LA, Gregorich SE, Katz PK, Millstein SG, Nachtigall RD, Bleil ME, Adler NE (2012) Psychological distress and in vitro fertilization outcome. Fertil Steril 98(2):459–464

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard N, Kirkman M, Hammarberg K, McBain J, Agresta F, Bayly C, Hickey M, Peate M, Fisher J (2017) Characteristics and circumstances of women in Australia who cryopreserved their oocytes for non-medical indications. J Reprod Infant Psychol 35(2):108–118

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Redshaw M, Hockley C, Davidson LL (2006) A qualitative study of the experience of treatment for infertility among women who successfully became pregnant. Hum Reprod 22(1):295–304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal MB, Goldfarb J (1997) Infertility and assisted reproductive technology: an update for mental health professionals. Harv Rev Psychiatry 5(3):169–172

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rouchou B (2013) Consequences of infertility in developing countries. Perspect Public Health 133(3):174–179

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe H, Fisher J, Hammarberg K (2017) A couple who considers artificial reproductive techniques: psychosocially informed care in reproductive medicine. In: Bio-psycho-social obstetrics and gynecology. Springer, Cham, pp 283–295

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt L (2009) Social and psychological consequences of infertility and assisted reproduction – what are the research priorities? Hum Fertil (Camb) 12(1):14–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt L, Holstein B, Christensen U, Boivin J (2005) Does infertility cause marital benefit? An epidemiological study of 2250 women and men in fertility treatment. Patient Educ Couns 59(3):244–251

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt L, Sobotka T, Bentzen JG, Nyboe Andersen A (2011) Demographic and medical consequences of the postponement of parenthood. Hum Reprod Update 18(1):29–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schytt E, Nilsen A, Bernhardt E (2014) Still childless at the age of 28 to 40 years: a cross-sectional study of Swedish women’s and men’s reproductive intentions. Sex Reprod Healthc 5(1):23–29

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sundby J, Olsen A, Schei B (1994) Quality of care for infertility patients. An evaluation of a plan for a hospital investigation. Scand J Soc Med 22(2):139–144

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thorn P (2009) Understanding infertility: psychological and social considerations from a counselling perspective. Int J Fertil Steril 3(2):48

    Google Scholar 

  • van Montfoort AP, Dumoulin JC, Land JA, Coonen E, Derhaag JG, Evers JL (2005) Elective single embryo transfer (eSET) policy in the first three IVF/ICSI treatment cycles. Hum Reprod 20(2):433–436

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verhaak CM, Smeenk J, Evers A, Kremer JA, Kraaimaat F, Braat D (2006) Women’s emotional adjustment to IVF: a systematic review of 25 years of research. Hum Reprod Update 13(1):27–36

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verhaak CM, Smeenk JM, Evers AW, Kremer JA, Kraaimaat FW, Braat DD (2007) Women’s emotional adjustment to IVF: a systematic review of 25 years of research. Hum Reprod Update 13(1):27–36

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wallach EE, Mahlstedt P (1985) The psychological component of infertility. Fertil Steril 43(3):335–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wischmann TH (2003) Psychogenic infertility – myths and facts. J Assist Reprod Genet 20(12):485–494

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1987) Infections, pregnancies, and infertility: perspectives on prevention. Fertil Steril 47(6):964–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yong P, Martin C, Thong J (2000) A comparison of psychological functioning in women at different stages of in vitro fertilization treatment using the mean affect adjective check list. J Assist Reprod Genet 17(10):553–556

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global and Women’s Health Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Jane Fisher & Karin Hammarberg

Authors
  1. Jane Fisher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karin Hammarberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jane Fisher .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. N Inst. of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India

    Prabha Chandra

  2. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Helen Herrman

  3. Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Jane Fisher

  4. CenterforGenderResearch& Early Detection, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Anita Riecher-Rössler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Fisher, J., Hammarberg, K. (2020). Infertility, New Reproductive Technologies, and Women’s Mental Health. In: Chandra, P., Herrman, H., Fisher, J., Riecher-Rössler, A. (eds) Mental Health and Illness of Women. Mental Health and Illness Worldwide. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0371-4_16-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0371-4_16-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0371-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0371-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation