Fertility and Sterility, 52(3), 425-432
Women who undergo treatment for infertility frequently report depression, but it is crucial to distinguish between subjective distress, symptoms, and clinical depressive disorders. In the initial assessment of a prospective, longitudinal study, 59 women presenting for infertility treatment were compared with 35 women presenting for routine gynecological care. Infertility patients and controls were not significantly different on self-report measures of partner satisfaction, sexual functioning, or self-esteem. There was also no difference in psychiatric symptomatology, or in the percentage of subjects who were currently experiencing or had ever experienced a major depressive episode. However, the infertility patients perceived themselves to have been already quite affected by their inability to conceive. For instance, 49.2% reported changes in their sexual functioning and 74.6% reported changes in their mood.
Downey, J., Yingling, S., McKinney, M., Husami, N., Jewelewicz, R., & Maidman, J. (1989). Mood disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and distress in women presenting for infertility evaluation. *Fertility and sterility*, *52*(3), 425-432. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)60912-3
Downey J, Yingling S, McKinney M, Husami N, Jewelewicz R, Maidman J. Mood disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and distress in women presenting for infertility evaluation. Fertil Steril. 1989;52(3):425-432. doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)60912-3
Downey, J., et al. "Mood disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and distress in women presenting for infertility evaluation." *Fertility and sterility*, vol. 52, no. 3, 1989, pp. 425-432.
Adolescent, Adult, Depressive Disorder/complications/etiology, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female/diagnosis/psychology/therapy, Longitudinal Studies, Mental Disorders/complications/etiology, Mood Disorders/complications/etiology, Personality Inventory, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychological Tests, Self Concept,