Background: The aim of this study was to gain more insight into long-term psychological adjustment to IVF in women.
Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 298 women entering their first IVF treatment cycle (including ICSI) completed standardized psychological questionnaires before the start of the treatment, just after the last treatment cycle, and 6 months and 3-5 years after the last treatment cycle. The main outcome measures were state anxiety, depression and mode of adaptation to unsuccessful IVF.
Results: Anxiety and depression were found at follow-up to return to baseline levels following treatment not resulting in a live birth, after an initial increase during treatment. On the contrary, treatment resulting in a live birth was found to lead to a more positive long-term emotional status. Women who focused on new life goals as a mode of adaptation 3-5 years after IVF without a live birth showed lower levels of anxiety and depression compared with those who persisted in their attempts to get pregnant.
Conclusions: Treatment that resulted in a live birth led to more positive emotional adjustment. In addition, most women who did not give birth to a child after treatment adjusted well psychologically. Positive adjustment was related to developing new life goals rather than persisting in attempts to get pregnant. Helping women to change life goals after abandoning treatment might have beneficial effects on the adaptation process.