Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ljubljana –Slovenia– have reach the conclusion that the medical discipline can be really helpful in moments of emotional crisis like this one, and transforms the process in an adaptive stage
14 june 2016
These scholars carried out an experiment comparing a group of pregnant women through the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure with a group of women who achieved it the natural way. They evaluated a total of 153 pregnant women, between the 5 and 26 week of pregnancy. All of them answered a questionnaire prepared by the researchers, which focused on basic issues such as their social relationships, couple sexuality or their psychological state along their pregnancy.
At first glance, the results (collected in the newspaper Slovenian Journal of Public Health) show that there are not great differences between both groups. However, regarding the negative emotional charge, the researchers observed that it is higher in the group of women pregnant through the IVF procedure.
Regarding the negative emotional charge, the researchers observed that it is higher in the group of women pregnant through the IVF procedure
They conclude that a 40% of them considers their treatment to get pregnant stressful. Thus, the higher the tension, the lower their psychological state is, this is also applicable to their partners. Likewise, it was also possible to observe that in this group of women the social isolation and the sexuality problems significantly increases with regard to the other group of women.
The study shows the importance of the presence of a psychologist in the assessment and treatment of couples who face an infertility situation. They will also be really helpful in moments of emotional crisis, and will also act as a useful tool for the prevention and the acquisition of strategies that could transform the procedure into a healthier and more adaptive stage for the couple, alleviating their stress and anxiety.
The study shows the importance of the presence of a psychologist in the assessment and treatment of couples who face an infertility situation
Ultimately, the scholars put forward the role of psychologists in these kinds of procedures. Professionals who are able to help the couples to face an infertility situation and the pregnancy process. For these kinds of patients, the medical advances are important, but so are the human relationships they establish with the doctors who treat them and thus, psychology gains more significance. In fact, the same study assures that women who received psychological support and got pregnant through a IVF procedure enjoy their pregnancy, specially from the 20 weeks of gestation.
If you wish to broaden your knowledge on the matter, you can consult the digital diary Siglo XXI.
