Psychological Correlates of Prenatal Attachment in Women Who Conceived After In Vitro Fertilization and Women Who Conceived Naturally

ABSTRACT: Background: Investigators have pointed out that long‐awaited pregnancies, such as those after in vitro fertilization (IVF), are emotionally vulnerable. In addition, higher pregnancy‐related distress has been found among women pregnant after in vitro fertilization compared with women with “naturally” achieved pregnancy. The aim of this study was to compare prenatal attachment among IVF mothers and control mothers (women who conceived naturally), and to study relationships between prenatal attachment and psychosocial variables. Methods : Fifty‐six IVF women from IVF clinics and 41 control women from antenatal clinics in Stockholm were assessed in gestational weeks 26 and 36. They completed self‐rating scales measuring prenatal attachment, personality, marital relationship, anxiety, and depression. Results: Prenatal attachment increased as the pregnancy progressed in both groups. Prenatal attachment rated in gestational week 26 was significantly associated with that in gestational week 36. Multiple regression analyses showed that, in gestational week 26, prenatal attachment was explained by satisfaction with the partner relationship, whereas in gestational week 36 the factors contributing to high prenatal attachment were low scores of the personality trait detachment, low ambivalence, and younger age. Method of conception was unrelated to prenatal attachment at either assessment time point. Conclusions: In vitro fertilization mothers are attached to their unborn children to the same extent as other mothers. Prenatal attachment increases during pregnancy. At the same time, however, individual scores on prenatal attachment seem to be relatively stable. Significant contributors to prenatal attachment are marital satisfaction, age, ambivalence, and detachment. (BIRTH 33:4 December 2006)     

Measurement of endometrial tissue blood flow: a novel way to assess uterine receptivity for implantation

Objective: To assess endometrial receptivity in terms of endometrial tissue blood flow (ETBF) measured hysterofiberscopically by laser blood-flowmetry, and to examine the technique’s effectiveness in an in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) program.

Design: A prospective clinical study.

Setting(s): IVF program in a university hospital.

Patient(s): A total of 75 infertile women with normal menstrual cycles undergoing IVF/ICSI.

Intervention(s): ETBF, conventional ultrasonographic, endocrinologic, and histologic parameters for receptivity and immunoreactivity for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in endometrium were assessed between days 4 and 6 of the luteal phase in a spontaneous menstrual cycle. Then all patients underwent IVF/ICSI.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Achievement of clinical pregnancy by IVF/ICSI.

Result(s): ETBF, VEGF expression, and the number of embryos were significantly higher in the women who became pregnant than in those who did not. By stepwise multiple logistic regression, significant predictors of pregnancy were the number of embryos and ETBF but not conventional receptivity markers. The rate of pregnancy was significantly higher in women with ETBF values of at least 29 mL/min per 100 grams of tissue than in women with lower values (42 vs. 15% in 36 and 39 women, respectively). ETBF was significantly greater in morphologically normal than abnormal uteri. In normal uteri, ETBF was greatest in the fundus. Correspondingly, in normal uteri 85% of gestational sacs were implanted in the fundus.

Conclusion(s): ETBF is superior to conventional parameters for determining endometrial receptivity for implantation.     

Goserelin Acetate (Zoladex)with or without Hormone Replacement Therapy for the Treatment of Endometriosis

Objective: To determine if women undergoing GnRH agonist-hMG stimulated IVF cycles can undergo successful discontinuation of luteal phase support.

Design: A protocol for selective discontinuation of luteal phase support was evaluated prospectively in women undergoing assisted reproduction cycles.

Setting: A tertiary care institutional-based assisted reproduction program.

Patient(s): One hundred eighty-eight women who conceived after an IVF or zygote intrafallopian transfer cycle including a GnRH agonist between January 1994 and June 1997.

Intervention(s): Women with serum progesterone levels of ≥60 ng/mL at 4 weeks’ gestation were selected for discontinuation of their luteal phase support.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Delivery rate.

Result(s): Sixty-three women (62.4%) met the criteria for discontinuation of luteal phase support. There were no differences in the mean age, peak E₂ levels, number of follicles, number of embryos transferred, or delivery rates (85.7% versus 78.9%) between the women who did and those who did not have discontinuation of their progesterone supplementation.

Conclusion(s): These data reveal that luteal phase support can be discontinued successfully for selective women undergoing IVF who are receiving a GnRH agonist.     

Personality factors and emotional responses to pregnancy among IVF couples in early pregnancy: a comparative study

BACKGROUND: Little is known as to whether negative experiences associated with infertility and IVF treatment persist after successful treatment. The aim of the study was to compare couples who have conceived after IVF and couples who have conceived naturally regarding personality factors and emotional responses to pregnancy. METHODS: Fifty-seven women pregnant after IVF and 55 male partners and 43 women who had conceived naturally and 39 male partners were recruited from university IVF clinics and antenatal clinics in Stockholm. The subjects were interviewed about their socio-demographic background. They completed scales of personality traits, anxiety, emotional responses to pregnancy, marital adjustment and reactions to recalled infertility while in pregnancy week 13 (range 11-17). RESULTS: The results showed that the IVF women had more muscular tension and were more anxious about loosing the pregnancy than the control women. The IVF women with high infertility distress were more anxious about loosing the pregnancy and less ambivalent than the women with lower distress. The IVF men had more somatic anxiety, indirect aggression, guilt, and were more detached and more anxious about loosing the pregnancy and less ambivalent than the control men. The IVF men with high infertility distress were more anxious about the baby not being normal than the men with lower infertility distress. CONCLUSIONS: The women and men who had conceived after IVF differed on a number of personality dimensions and emotional responses to the pregnancy from that of the women and the men who had conceived naturally. The results suggest that IVF couples may need additional emotional support in early pregnancy.     

Pregnancy and birth experiences in 12 women undergoing IVF

OBJECTIVE: Medical interventions during the perinatal period are psychologically difficult for women and research has shown this is true as well for in-vitro fertilization procedures (IVF). This study examined the impact of IVF and different medical interventions, common to both non-pathological pregnancies and IVF, through the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve women undergoing IVF evaluated their experience of pregnancy and birth using measures of post-partum depression, maternal self-esteem, and semi-directive interviews. RESULTS: The results showed that the number of medical interventions is correlated with higher scores of post-partum depression as well as lowered scores in maternal self-esteem. Qualitative analyses of interviews showed that IVF has a complex and unique psychological impact. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of this study underline the need for specific psychological support for women undergoing IVF treatment.     

Prenatal attachment in Swedish IVF fathers and controls

Our first aim was to investigate the pattern of prenatal attachment among partners of women who have become pregnant via in vitro fertilization (IVF men) and partners of women who have become pregnant without assisted reproductive technology (ART) (controls). A second aim was to analyse whether there is a correlation between degree of prenatal attachment in gestational week 26 and week 36. The third aim was to relate degree of prenatal attachment rated in gestational week 26 and gestational week 36, respectively, to psychosocial factors, way of conception and personality traits among the two groups of fathers. Fifty‐three IVF men from IVF clinics and 37 control men from antenatal clinics in Stockholm were recruited to the study. They completed self‐rating scales measuring prenatal attachment, personality, marital relationship, anxiety and depression. The results showed that IVF fathers are attached to their unborn children to the same extent as other fathers. Prenatal attachment increases during pregnancy although individual scores on prenatal attachment seem to be relatively stable. Contributors to prenatal attachment are ambivalence as well as the personality traits detachment and psychastenia.     

Effect of prolongation of pregnancy on perinatal mortality

Objectives: (1) To determine the distribution of singleton and twin births according to gestational age in a Nigerian obstetric population; and (2) to compare their perinatal outcomes according to gestational age. Methods: A 10-year retrospective comparative study of twin and singleton births at a tertiary care center in Enugu, Nigeria. The variables analyzed were: the proportion of deliveries occurring at each gestational age, the gestational age-specific rates for stillbirths, cesarean section, babies with 1-min Apgar scores less than 4 and those whose birthweights were below the 10th percentile for gestational age. The trends in these rates were determined by finding the best fitting polynomial regression curve for each variable. Tests of statistical significance for trends in proportions were carried out by means of the χ²-test at the 95% confidence level. Results: Of the 496 twin births, 3.6% compared with 17.3% of the 496 singleton births went beyond 40 weeks’ gestation while 1.2% of the twin and 4.4% of the singleton deliveries occurred at 42 weeks’ gestation or beyond. For twins as well as singletons, there was a consistent and significant decline in the stillbirth rate and the proportion of babies with 1-min Apgar scores less than 4 up to 42 weeks (P=0.0000). Among the twins, the proportion of babies with birthweights below the 10th percentile (i.e. those with impaired growth) significantly rose from 28 weeks and above (P=0.0000) while among the singletons, a declining trend with gestational age was observed (P=0.0003). However, among the twins with impaired growth, the stillbirth rate neither differed between the first and second twins at each gestational age nor did it increase with gestational age in both the first and second twins. While the cesarean section rate for singletons remained almost stable at approximately 13%, there was a significant rise in the cesarean section rate with gestational age among the twin births. Conclusions: There were 1.2% of twin deliveries compared with 4.4% of singleton deliveries which occurred at 42 weeks’ gestation or beyond. In the Nigerian population studied, the perinatal outcomes in twins did not differ from those of singletons up to 42 weeks’ gestation suggesting that the 42-week cut-off for prolonged pregnancy applies equally well to twins as to singletons.     

Patterns of emotional responses to pregnancy, experience of pregnancy and attitudes to parenthood among IVF couples: a longitudinal study

The aim of this longitudinal study was to compare couples who had conceived by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with couples who had conceived naturally, regarding patterns of emotional response to different stages of pregnancy and to compare their expectations of and attitudes to pregnancy, parenthood and children. Fifty-seven IVF women and 55 of their male partners, and a control group of 43 pregnant women and 39 of their male partners participated. They completed scales measuring emotional responses to pregnancy, attitudes to pregnancy, parenthood and children. The IVF couples were interviewed about their experience of pregnancy. The overall anxiety about losing the pregnancy was higher among the IVF couples from early to late pregnancy. The IVF women experienced the pregnancy in a more positive way and they were less concerned about the child's gender and loss of freedom in their future lives as parents compared to controls. The IVF men were more anxious about the baby being injured during birth. The interviews with the IVF couples confirmed the self-ratings. In conclusion, the results suggest that it is important for healthcare providers to pay attention to an elevated anxiety among IVF couples and to give them extra time to discuss emotions during pregnancy and their future life as parents.     

Coping Style and Depression Level Influence Outcome in In Vitro Fertilization

Objective: To examine the influence of depression levels and coping on IVF outcome in women, taking into account the cause of infertility.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: A university hospital.

Patient(s): Ninety-eight women undergoing IVF treatment.

Intervention(s): Psychometric tests were administered at the first visit (day 3) of the investigated treatment cycle.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Achievement of pregnancy.

Results: The nonpregnant group reported increased expression of negative emotions. In the subgroup with a female indication for IVF, increased depressive symptomatology (correlated with increased expression of negative emotions) was associated with lower pregnancy rates (PRs), whereas in the subgroup with a male indication for IVF, increased depressive symptomatology (correlated with decreased expression of negative emotions) was associated with higher PRs.

Conclusion(s): Expression of negative emotions predicts depression levels and outcome in IVF. The cause of infertility should be taken into account when investigating the relation between psychologic functioning and outcome in IVF.     

Experience of pregnancy and delivery after ART

Differences in the experience of pregnancy and birth after ART compared to spontaneous conception are of interest for the developmental pyschologist. Studies performed to date have compared mainly the psychological aspects of experiencing the singleton pregnancy and the single birth. Couples after ART are at higher anxiety levels compared to those who have conceived naturally in the early stages of pregnancy. Individual experiences with infertility in those affected have often led to states of anxiety, low self-esteem and low confidence, but this does not seem to persist in pregnancy. Higher anxiety symptoms occur primarily. Increased symptoms of anxiety are found in pregnant women and their partners who have undergone the high stress of infertility. Pregnant women after ART are less concerned about the physical changes during pregnancy. Couples with previous ART mediated more harmony on the first impression, however, on the other hand being less communicative. A long duration of infertility (7 years or more) was associated with the expression of a large birth anxiety. Postpartum disorders such as depression are influenced by the interaction of several risk factors, particularly prematurity, multiple births and caesarean sections reinforce the emotional problems. Studies have confirmed an emotional well-being and a happy pregnancy with a satisfying mother-child relationship. However, where fears about the foetal surival are higher, postpartum difficulties are greater and self-esteem is lower after ART. Fears about the foetal survival and postnatal educational difficulties were greater after the application of assisted reproduction and the self-esteem lower. Pregnancy and parenthood after assisted reproduction may be idealised and is associated with a difficult transition to parenthood.     

Psychopathology, personality, and marital relationship in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures

Objective: To compare the psychopathology, personality features, and marital relationships of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with those of control patients, and to compare IVF inductees with program veterans.

Design: Cross-sectional clinical study.

Setting: A university hospital.

Patient(s): One hundred and one women undergoing IVF treatment.

Intervention(s): Psychometric tests were administered at first visit (baseline) of index treatment cycle.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Achievement of pregnancy.

Result(s): Women undergoing IVF show higher levels of anxiety and emotional tension than do controls. Although the infertile women showed no abnormal personality dimensions, the IVF group did have a particular psychological profile and a different marital relationship pattern when compared with the control participants. Between IVF veterans and inductees, there are significant differences with respect to psychopathology, psychological dimensions, and couple dynamics. The achievement of pregnancy is not associated with any special psychopathological, personality, or marital characteristics among the IVF women.

Conclusion(s): The most crucial period in IVF procedures may immediately follow the end of the first cycle because of the high risk of patients dropping out of the program. To determine the most effective supporting therapies for women undergoing fertilization procedures it could be useful to consider the psychological and relational differences between veterans and inductees.     

Calcium to creatinine ratio in a spot sample of urine for early prediction of pre-eclampsia

Objectives: Based on the fact that urinary calcium excretion decreases in pre-eclampsia, this study was designed to determine the predictive value of calcium to creatinine ratio in a spot urine sample. Methods: The calcium to creatinine ratio was measured in a spot urine sample of 102 normotensive women at 20–24 weeks’ gestation who attended the prenatal care clinic of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The women were followed-up until delivery and grouped according to pre-eclampsia occurrence. The prevalence of pre-eclampsia was measured and compared with the calcium to creatinine ratio. Results: Ninety-four women remained normotensive during pregnancy and eight developed pre-eclampsia. Mean age, gestational age at the beginning of the study, and gestational age at delivery did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mean urinary calcium concentration (15.9±8.5 mg/dl in normotensive vs. 10.2±7.5 mg/dl in pre-eclamptic women), and mean birth weight (3192±336.3 g vs. 2712±468.9 g) were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic patients (P=0.03 and 0.005, respectively). Mean calcium to creatinine ratio was also significantly lower in the pre-eclamptic group (P<0.03). Conclusions: Single urine calcium to creatinine ratio may be an effective method for screening women at greatest risk for pre-eclampsia.     

Recrudescent herpes labialis during and prior to early pregnancy

Objectives: To assess the experience of recrudescent herpes labialis (RHL) before and during early pregnancy. Methods: History of RHL prior to and during the first trimester of pregnancy was obtained from 3738 women attending at 10–15 weeks’ gestation. The influence of age, ethnicity, socioeconomic group, smoking behavior, and alcohol intake on RHL was assessed. Results: 1066 women (28.5%) reported a history of RHL lesions, with reduced incidence of RHL during pregnancy (0.111 lesions/subject per month) compared with outside pregnancy (0.19 lesions/subject per month) (P<0.0001). Those who did report lesions during pregnancy (n=296) experienced them at a higher monthly rate (0.41 lesions/subject per month) than before pregnancy (0.25 lesions/subject per month) (P<0.0001). RHL rate in early pregnancy was related solely to the previous rate of lesion recrudescence (P<0.001). Conclusion: Pregnant women with a history of RHL report reduced incidence of RHL during pregnancy.     

Treatment of repeated unexplained in vitro fertilization failure with intravenous immunoglobulin: a randomized, placebo-controlled Canadian trial

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on pregnancy outcome in couples with repeated unexplained in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Setting: A university-based and a free-standing IVF program.

Patient(s): Fifty-one couples with a history of repeated unexplained IVF failure who were preparing for another fresh IVF cycle or replacement of cryopreserved embryos.

Intervention(s): Eligible women underwent a standard IVF stimulation using a long luteal phase GnRH analog protocol. Cryopreserved embryos were replaced after endometrial preparation with oral micronized estradiol and subsequent vaginal progesterone. The women were randomly selected to receive IVIG (500 mg/kg) or an equivalent volume of normal saline. The first infusion was given on the day of embryo transfer or during the preceding 72 hours. The second infusion was given 4 weeks later if a clinical pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Live-birth rates.

Result(s): Overall, the live-birth rates were 4/26 (15%) for the IVIG group and 3/25 (12%) for the placebo group (P=0.52). There were 39 fresh IVF cycles, which yielded a clinical pregnancy rate of 28%, with live-birth rates of 4/21 (19%) for the IVIG group and 3/18 (17%) for the placebo group (P=0.59).

Conclusion(s): In this randomized clinical trial, IVIG did not improve the live-birth rate in couples with repeated unexplained IVF failure, stringently defined by known determinants of IVF outcome.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情对孕妇孕期焦虑情绪的影响及研究

目的:探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)疫情下孕妇孕期焦虑情绪的影响因素.方法:于2020年1月23日—2020年4月8日在湖北、湖南、江西、河南、广东、贵州、陕西7个省的43家医院开展孕妇心理健康状况横断面调查,采取问卷调查方式,获得有效问卷1793份,主要调查内容包括孕妇孕期的基本信息(年龄、身高、体质量、产...     

Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

Objective: The combination of transvaginal sonography and serum hCG measurement is reliable in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in spontaneous pregnancies. In patients who became pregnant through IVF-ET, transfer of multiple embryos after IVF could be responsible for the different performance of these tests. We evaluated the discriminative capacity of transvaginal sonography in combination with hCG measurement in the diagnosis of EP after IVF-ET.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting and Patient(s): Consecutive patients, pregnant through IVF-ET, who presented with clinically suspected EP.

Intervention(s): Transvaginal sonography, serum hCG measurement at 6, 9, and 15 days after ET and after a negative transvaginal sonography.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Ectopic pregnancy confirmed at laparoscopy.

Result(s): Between September 1993 and May 1996, 86 women were included in the study, of whom 24 had an EP. Transvaginal sonography identified 46 intrauterine pregnancies and 5 EPs, but serum hCG could not diagnose EPs in patients in whom transvaginal sonography did not show a gestational sac. Serum hCG measurement 9 days after ET could identify pregnancy failure with 100% specificity at a cut-off value of 18 IU/L, but it could not identify patients with EP with enough certainty to justify immediate treatment.

Conclusion(s): We recommend single serum hCG measurement 9 days after ET to discriminate between viable and nonviable pregnancies. Transvaginal sonography can be postponed until 5 weeks after ET, except for patients with abdominal pain and/or vaginal bleeding, or patients with a serum hCG level of <18 IU/L.     

妊娠期高血压、子痫前期及子痫与孕前和孕期体质量及其他因素的相关性研究

目的:探讨妊娠期高血压、子痫前期及子痫与孕前体质量指数(BMI)和孕期体质量增长及其他因素的相关性。方法:本研究纳入2013年1月1日至2014年12月31日在四川大学华西第二医院住院分娩的孕妇共10422例,其中患病组(患妊娠期高血压、子痫前期及子痫)349例,未患病组(未患妊娠期高血压、子痫前期及子痫)10073例。采用Logistics回归分析孕前、孕期体质量及其他因素与妊娠期高血压、子痫前期及子痫的相关性及不同BMI分类与其的相关性。结果:Logistics回归分析示,对于所有孕妇,年龄、孕前BMI过高(包括孕前超重、孕前肥胖)、多胎妊娠、辅助生殖技术受孕、慢性高血压及妊娠期高血压疾病史是妊娠期高血压、子痫及子痫前期的独立危险因素,孕前偏瘦为其保护性因素。通过BMI分层以后,对于孕前BMI正常的孕妇,年龄、BMI、孕期总体质量增长、多胎妊娠、辅助生殖技术、慢性高血压、妊娠期高血压疾病史是3种疾病的独立危险因素;对于孕前超重的孕妇,其危险因素只包括孕前BMI、辅助生殖技术受孕和慢性高血压。结论:孕前BMI过高、多胎妊娠、辅助生殖技术受孕、妊娠期高血压疾病史使妊娠期高血压、子痫及子痫前期的发生风险明显增加;孕前BMI、辅助生殖技术受孕和慢性高血压可能增加孕前体质量正常和超重孕妇妊娠期高血压、子痫及子痫前期的发生风险;孕期体质量增长与妊娠期高血压、子痫及子痫前期的发生关系不明显。     

The influence of stress and state anxiety on the outcome of IVF-treatment: psychological and endocrinological assessment of Swedish women entering IVF-treatment

BACKGROUND: Comparing stress levels in women entering IVF treatment with those of fertile controls as well as relating these levels to the outcome of IVF. METHODS: State anxiety and personality profiles as well as stress hormones were studied in 22 normally menstruating women entering IVF treatment for tubal infertility. Their personality profiles as well as state anxiety scores measured before entering IVF treatment were related to the outcome of treatment. Twenty-two fertile women served as controls. Stress markers were serum prolactin and cortisol. These were estimated by radioimmunoassay. The psychological evaluation included the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) and state anxiety as measured by the STAI questionnaire. Basal FSH on cycle day 3 and E2 and P4 AUC during the luteal phase were evaluated as hormonal predictors for the outcome of IVF treatment. RESULTS: Comparison of the personality profiles of the two groups, showed that infertile women had significantly higher scores of suspicion (p>0.05), guilt (p>0.05), and hostility (p>0.01), but lower somatic anxiety (0.05) and indirect aggression (0.05) than fertile controls. The infertile women also had significantly higher levels of prolactin and cortisol throughout the menstrual cycle. Serum cortisol, prolactin and FSH levels on cycle day 3 did not differ between the women who conceived after IVF treatment and those who did not conceive. However, significant differences were found in E2 and P4 AUC (p>0.01) in the luteal phase between those women who became pregnant and those who failed. There was a trend (p<0.06) toward higher state anxiety levels among the women who did not succeed in becoming pregnant after IVF treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The main findings suggest that infertile women have a different personality profile in terms of more suspicion, guilt and hostility as compared to the fertile controls, perhaps as a response to their infertility. Their stress levels in terms of circulating prolactin and cortisol levels were elevated compared to the fertile controls. Psychological stress may affect the outcome of IVF treatment since state anxiety levels among those who did not achieve pregnancy were slightly higher than among those who became pregnant.