Quality of life and influencing factors among infertile women

Abstract

Introduction:Various individual, social, economic factors along with irrational parenthood cognitions may have negative effects on quality of life of infertile women. The aim of this study was to investigate quality of life and related influencing factors among infertile women referring to Vali-e-asr fertility research center, Tehran, Iran. Methods: 147 infertile women referred to Vali-e-asr fertility research center affiliated to Tehran university of medical sciences, enrolled in such cross-sectional study. Data were gathered by three specific questionnaires of demographic characteristics, infertility-specified quality of life and irrational parenthood cognitions. Results: 48.3% of studied women had good quality of life, whereas 36.1% had moderate and 15.6% had poor conditions in their quality of lives. Mean آ± SD of quality of life scores was 1.62 آ± 0.83. Data revealed statistically significant correlations between quality of life and perceived pressures (p=0.001), strong desire for having a child (p<0.001), economic burden of treatment (p<0.001), individual-oriented economic assessment (p=0.001) and level of irrational parenthood cognitions (p<0.001). Conclusion: Quality of life of infertile women in this study is influenced by either level of irrational parenthood cognition, economic burden of treatment or perceived pressures. Identifying highly vulnerable sub-groups in the context of their quality of lives will provide more appropriate counseling conditions. Precise consultation with and perpetual support from infertile women aiming to improve their quality of lives, seem of indisputable necessity. We suggest further studies comparing fertile and infertile women within their quality of lives.