Research

Infertility, psychological interventions and pregnancy rates
Depression & pregnancy rates in IVF
Behavioral health programs & pregnancy rates.
Couples therapy & pregnancy rates
Psychosocial stress and infertility

Infertility, psychological interventions and pregnancy rates:
The most recent and comprehensive study was conducted by Domar et al. The research team divided 184 women who had been infertile for less than two years into three groups. One group of women participated in a 10 session cognitive-behavioral group; another in a support group and the third group received no psychological interventions of any kind. Within one year of the study 55% of the women from the cognitive-behavioral group and 54 % of the women from the support group experienced a viable pregnancy. In comparison, only 20 % of the group of women who had not received any psychological help became pregnant. (Domar, A. D. et al. (2000), Impact of group psychological interventions on pregnancy rates in infertile women. Fertility and Sterility, 73, 805 – 811)

Depression and pregnancy rates in in-vitro/embryo transfer procedures:
Thiering et al. demonstrated in a study on in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer procedures that depression can affect conception rates. Women with elevated depression scores on the CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) had less than half pregnancy success rates for in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer procedures compared with nondepressed women. (Thiering P., Beaurepaire J., Jones M., et al, (1993), Mood state as a predictor of treatment outcome after in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer technology (IVT/ET), Journal of Psychosomatic Research 37, 481-491)

Behavioral health programs and pregnancy rates:
Domar et al. at Harvard Medical School, New England Deaconess Hospital studied the effects of a 10-week group behavioral treatment program on 52 infertile women. Participation in the program resulted in significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and anger. In addition 32 % of the infertile women became pregnant within six months of completing the program. (Domar, A. D., Zuttermeister, P. C., Seibel, M. & Benson, H., (1992), Psychological improvement in infertile women after behavioral treatment: a replication. Fertility and Sterility, 58, 144-147)

Those findings also held up when Domar and her colleagues tabulated the results for 284 infertile women participating in their 10-week program. They found significant decreases in depression, anxiety, hostility and fatigue. Within six months of completing the program 42 % of the women had gotten pregnant, and 36% went on to give birth. The most interesting finding of this study, however, is that the infertile women who initially had the highest scores on depression were also the most likely to get pregnant. Within six months of completing the program 57 % of the most severely depressed women got pregnant. (Domar, A. D. & Dreher, H. (1996) Healing Mind, Healthy Woman, p. 238)

Couples therapy and pregnancy rates:
DeCherney at Yale University, president of the American Fertility Society conducted a study with nineteen infertile couples. Ten of the couples worked with a therapist on emotional issues related to their infertility. The other nine couples served as the control group, receiving no therapy. After a year and a half, six of the ten couples who had received psychological treatment achieved pregnancy. Only one couple from the control group got pregnant. (Sarrel & DeCherney A., (1985), Fertility and Sterility, 43, pp. 897-000)

Psychosocial stress and infertility:
A research study by Wasser, Sewall and Soules supports a statistically significant connection between psychosocial stress (defined as distress resulting from psychological or social pressures, including concerns over inadequate personal, social or environmental resources for self or family) and hormonally related infertility. (Wasser, S., Sewall, G. & Soules, M. (1993). Psychosocial stress as a cause of infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 59, 685-689)