Psychological aspects of infertility.

The unfulfilled desire for children is a significant problem worldwide. The psychological effects of this development are usually underestimated, while the myth of "psychogenic infertility" stubbornly persists. This article first provides an overview of the basic facts on the subject before highlighting the psychological effects of both the diagnosis of infertility and the therapeutic options.

Predictors of partnership and sexual satisfaction and dyadic effects in couples affected by endometriosis and infertility.

Purpose: Endometriosis and infertility are associated with impaired partnership and sexuality of the patients, but also of their male partners. Also, endometriosis is one of the most common causes of infertility, resulting in a large overlap of both pathologies. The aim of this study was to determine the association of different predictors of partnership and sexual satisfaction and dyadic effects in couples with endometriosis and infertility.

Evaluation of infertility counselling in Germany.

Purpose: This paper reports on the first evaluation of infertility counselling in Germany.

Methods: Sixty-nine infertility counsellors provided feedback via 524 survey sheets and 182 questionnaires were filled in by clients.

Results: The results show a high level of satisfaction on behalf of the clients.

Endometriosis: patient-doctor communication and psychological counselling.

The fact that endometriosis is one of the most frequent gynaecological disorders in women and girls is gradually attracting greater public and political attention. There is also substantial awareness of the disorder among German gynaecologists, albeit without sufficient "equipment" for discussing the condition with patients and providing psychological counselling. This article offers hands-on proposals for medical counselling and the discussion of relevant issues, as well as other practical tips and suggested verbalisations for use by women suffering from endometriosis (and their partners).

Systematic Review: Risk Factors of Anxiety, Depressiveness, and (Lack of) Social Support in Women and Men Prior to Assisted Reproduction.

This review provides a systematic overview of the state of knowledge to date of psychosocial risk factors with a focus on anxiety, depressiveness, and (lack of) social support among involuntarily childless women and men assisted reproduction. The databases PubMed, PubPsych, PsycINFO-Ebsco, and Web of Science were searched for relevant publications in English or German, and finally a total of 20 publications were included in the systematic review. Of these, 18 studies focused on depressiveness, 15 studies focused on anxiety, and 9 studies focused on social support.

Recurrent Miscarriage: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures. Guideline of the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry No. 015/050, May 2022).

The aim of this guideline is to standardize the diagnosis and therapy of recurrent miscarriage (RM) using evidence from the recent literature. This is done by using consistent definitions, objective evaluations and standardized treatment protocols. When this guideline was compiled, special consideration was given to previous recommendations in prior versions of this guideline and the recommendations of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and a detailed individual search of the literature about the different topics was carried out.

Psychological Aspects of Infertility - Results from an Actor-Partner Interdependence Analysis.

For some patients, undergoing medical treatment for infertility is a cause of major emotional stress which the couple needs to deal with together; it can be said that infertility is a shared stressor. From the literature it is known that a subjectively perceived sense of self-efficacy supports the patient's ability to cope adaptively with an illness. As the basis for this study, we assumed that high levels of self-efficacy are associated with low psychological risk scores (e.

Analysing medical predictors for the outcome of infertility treatment: a 5-year follow-up survey.

Purpose: For many couples, bearing children is a common life goal; however it cannot always be fulfilled. Undergoing infertility treatment does not always guarantee pregnancies and live births. Couples experience miscarriages and even discontinue infertility treatment.

Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for infertile women: A systematic review and meta-analysis with a focus on a method-critical evaluation.

Background: Approximately seven to nine percent of couples of reproductive age do not get pregnant despite regular and unprotected sexual intercourse. Various psychosocial interventions for women and men with fertility disorders are repeatedly found in the literature. The effects of these interventions on outcomes such as anxiety and depression, as well as on the probability of pregnancy, do not currently allow for reliable generalisable statements.

The Posttraumatic Impact of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in Both Women and Men.

Recurrent pregnancy loss is usually associated with significant psychological distress for both partners of the couple. It may act as a traumatic experience resulting in a posttraumatic stress disorder. The object of this study is to examine the posttraumatic impact of recurrent pregnancy loss on men and women and their interdependencies.

Sexual dysfunction and disorders as a consequence of infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sexuality has a key impact on quality of life and on reproductive health. Infertility often results in sexual dysfunction. Despite this close association, addressing sexuality is not a standard component of infertility counselling, especially since in most countries sexual medicine is not a core element of specialist training.

Partners matter: The psychosocial well-being of couples when dealing with endometriosis.

Background: Endometriosis is often associated with severe dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain and dyspareunia and has a high impact on daily life as well as sexuality. Quality of partnership positively influences the course of various diseases and ability to cope with emotional and physical distress. However, studies focusing on the male partners of endometriosis patients are rare, and even less is known about the reciprocal relationship in these couples.

When ART fails: figures, experiences, interventions and a plea for the 'plan B'.

Infertility is perceived by many of those affected by it as one of the most stressful episodes in life. Assisted reproduction can help only some of the people with a desire for children to experience the birth of a biological child. Most people who remain involuntarily childless eventually come to terms with the situation; their psychological well-being is not lastingly affected.

Psychosomatically Oriented Diagnostics and Therapy for Fertility Disorders. Guideline of the DGPFG (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry Number 016/003, December 2019).

The purpose of this official guideline published and coordinated by the German Society for Psychosomatic Gynecology and Obstetrics [Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychosomatische Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe (DGPFG)] is to provide a consensus-based overview of psychosomatically oriented diagnostic procedures and treatments for fertility disorders by evaluating the relevant literature. This S2k guideline was developed using a structured consensus process which included representative members of various professions; the guideline was commissioned by the DGPFG and is based on the 2014 version of the guideline. The guideline provides recommendations on psychosomatically oriented diagnostic procedures and treatments for fertility disorders.

Top 10 priorities for future infertility research: an international consensus development study† ‡.

Study Question: Can the priorities for future research in infertility be identified?

Summary Answer: The top 10 research priorities for the four areas of male infertility, female and unexplained infertility, medically assisted reproduction and ethics, access and organization of care for people with fertility problems were identified.

What Is Known Already: Many fundamental questions regarding the prevention, management and consequences of infertility remain unanswered. This is a barrier to improving the care received by those people with fertility problems.

Recurrent pregnancy loss: a shared stressor---couple-orientated psychological research findings.

Objective: To compare the psychological impact of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) on affected men and women and to determine risk and protective factors in both partners.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University-affiliated fertility center.

Quality of life and related constructs in a group of infertile Hungarian women: a validation study of the FertiQoL.

Quality-of-life measurement is a basic prerequisite for psychologically sensitive fertility care and the FertiQoL is a psychometrically sound outcome measure in this field. The aim of the present research was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Hungarian Core FertiQoL. Two independent samples of infertile women were merged ( = 320).

[The Importance of Different Topics in Medical Psychology/Sociology from Physicians' and Medical Students' View: Similarities and Differences].

Background: The subject of "Medical Psychology/Sociology" is facing various content changes as a result of the currently pending study reforms within the framework of the "Master Plan Medical Studies 2020". These include the further development of the catalogues of exam-relevant topics (GK) and the National Competence-Based Learning Objectives Catalogue for Undergraduate Medical Education (NKLM) as well as the Medical Licensing Regulations (ÄApprO). In this context, the question arises as to which training contents of "medical psychology/sociology", that medical students are confronted with, are of particular importance for their future medical work.

Predictors for the Early Termination of a Psychological Intervention During Treatment with Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

Assisted reproductive technologies are typically perceived by couples as being an emotional burden. The objective of the study "Positive Ausrichtung bei unerfülltem Kinderwunsch" [Positive adjustment in infertility] (PACI) is to examine the efficacy and acceptance of a smartphone-supported psychosocial intervention during infertility treatment. In this investigation, the early drop-out of study subjects from the study is of primary interest.

Diagnosis and Treatment Before Assisted Reproductive Treatments. Guideline of the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG (S2k Level, AWMF Register Number 015-085, February 2019) - Part 2, Hemostaseology, Andrology, Genetics and History of Malignant Disease.

Supporting and counselling couples with fertility issues prior to starting ART is a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The first German-language interdisciplinary S2k guideline on "Diagnosis and Therapy Before Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART)" was published in February 2019. The guideline was developed in the context of the guidelines program of the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) in cooperation with the Swiss Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SGGG) and the Austrian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (OEGGG).

Diagnosis and Therapy Before Assisted Reproductive Treatments. Guideline of the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG (S2k Level, AWMF Register Number 015-085, February 2019) - Part 1, Basic Assessment of the Woman.

Supporting and counselling couples with fertility issues prior to starting ART is a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The first German/Austrian/Swiss interdisciplinary S2k guideline on "Diagnosis and Therapy Before Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART)" was published in February 2019. This guideline was developed in the context of the guidelines program of the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) in cooperation with the Swiss Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SGGG) and the Austrian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (OEGGG).

Smartphone-supported Positive Adjustment Coping Intervention (PACI) for couples undergoing fertility treatment: a randomised controlled trial protocol.

Introduction: Infertility generally counts as a profound crisis in the lives of couples and as an emotionally stressful experience. For couples undergoing fertility treatment, this is especially true of the waiting period following embryo transfer, which couples say is the most stressful period during treatment. However, at this specific phase, psychosocial counselling is not always available on the spot.