Anxiety and depression have no influence on the cancellation and pregnancy rates of a first IVF or ICSI treatment

Abstract

Background: After many years of research, the impact of psychological distress on the IVF treatment outcome is still unclear. This study aimed to determine the influences of anxiety and depression before and during IVF or ICSI treatment on the cancellation and pregnancy rates of inductees.

Methods: In a multicentre prospective cohort study, we assessed anxiety and depression at baseline and the procedural anxiety level one day before oocyte retrieval, with the short versions of the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Primary Care (BDI-PC). The effect of baseline anxiety and depression on the cancellation and pregnancy rates of 783 women in their first IVF or ICSI treatment was evaluated. We also determined if a change in anxiety from the start of treatment until just before oocyte retrieval affects the pregnancy rate. The predictive value of distress was assessed while controlling for several factors in subfertility treatment.

Results: Neither baseline nor procedural anxiety, nor depression affected the ongoing pregnancy rates, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.04 (95% CI 0.82-1.33), 0.96 (95% CI 0.77-1.20) and 0.85 (95% CI 0.65-1.10), respectively. Neither did the anxiety gain score affect the pregnancy rate, OR 1.08 (95% CI 0.83-1.41). A cancellation of treatment could not be predicted by either anxiety or depression, OR 1.16 (95% CI 0.83-1.63) and 0.85 (95% CI 0.59-1.22), respectively.

Conclusions: Inductees in IVF treatment can be reassured that anxiety and depression levels before and during treatment have no significant influence on the cancellation and pregnancy rates.