Predictors of fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) in infertile women: analysis of confounding factors

Abstract

Objective: Infertility may adversely influence quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to compare QoL in women with primary and secondary infertility, and identify factors associated with poor and good QoL.

Study design: Quality of life was measured using the FertiQoL tool in 273 patients attending an infertility clinic, and demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. Patients with primary and secondary infertility were compared for QoL subscales, and other confounding factors were investigated using multiple regression analysis.

Results: Women with secondary infertility obtained higher scores in emotional, mind/body, and social domains of the core subscale, tolerability domain of the treatment subscale, and total QoL (p<0.05). Women desiring psychological support showed lower scores in all domains except environment. Prolonged duration of infertility was associated with lower scores of mind/body, social, tolerability domains and total QoL score (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the status of education and secondary infertility had a positive impact, whereas prolonged duration of infertility and desire for psychological support had a negative impact on total QoL scores.

Conclusion: QoL scores were better in patients with secondary infertility and higher educational status, whereas scores were negatively affected by prolonged duration of infertility and desire for psychological support.

Keywords: FertiQuol tool; Infertility; Psychological support; Quality of life.