Gender perspective on quality of life, comparisons between groups 4-5.5 years after unsuccessful or successful IVF treatment

Abstract

Objective: To describe and compare quality of life in men and women who had in vitro fertilization (IVF) within the Swedish public health system 4-5.5 years previously, either unsuccessfully and were subsequently living without children, or successfully, having children aged 4-5.5 years. These groups were compared to a control group of men and women with children born at the same time as in the successful group.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Reproductive Unit, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Sample: Twenty-six men and 37 women in the unsuccessful group, 135 men and 154 women in the successful group and 93 men and 118 women in the control group.

Methods: Questionnaire study. The respective gender differences were studied in the control and study groups.

Main outcome measures: Psychological general well-being (PGWB), sense of coherence (SOC), experience of infertility, demographic-socio-economic, and health characteristics.

Results: Men in the unsuccessful IVF group scored lower in total PGWB and SOC indices than the successful group men. They reported more depression, lower PGWB and lower SOC than the control group men. Women in the unsuccessful IVF group reported more anxiety, depression, and lower SOC than the successful group women and more depression and lower SOC indices than control group women. Men and women in the unsuccessful IVF group did not differ in any of the parameters. Men in the successful IVF group had higher PGWB, less signs of depression and more self-confidence than women in that group.

Conclusion: Quality of life in men seems more negatively affected by involuntary infertility than reported in earlier studies.