Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of infertility affects between 8-12% of couples of childbearing age worldwide. It is difficult to manage infertility, which often generates anxiety and depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a study that included women of childbearing age who were unsuccessful in getting pregnant. Our research was based on a questionnaire distributed online via social media and it was carried out over a period of two months. The questionnaire comprised 35 questions and intended to highlight the psychological impact of infertility diagnosis on the female participants in the present study. RESULTS: A total of 486 women with a diagnosis of infertility responded to the online questionnaire. Subjects had an average age between 31 and 40 years (58.4%) and most of them (80.2%) came from urban areas. It was found that 38.1% of patients experienced a very high level of stress generated by their infertility diagnosis and 54.7% stated that their greatest fear was that they would never get pregnant; 41.4% of these patients claimed that their quality of life was affected and 31.7% indicated a negative impact even on their couple life. Of all participants to the questionnaire, 96.6% stated that the costs of treatments or even assisted reproduction procedures were an additional stress and 73.7% believed that religion played an important moral role. CONCLUSIONS: The women who were enrolled in the current study recognized the negative impact of their infertility diagnosis on both themselves and their couple's lives. At the same time, they believed in Divine help and looked optimistically to the future in terms of achieving pregnancy.