Psychiatry Investig.  2024 Nov;21(11):1175-1182. 10.30773/pi.2024.0239.

Psychiatric Considerations of Infertility

• Hwang YJ
• Lee J
• Hwang J
• Kim H
• Kim N
• Kim TS

• KMID: 2560889
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2024.0239

Abstract

Objective
Infertility, the inability to achieve pregnancy within a year despite normal attempts to conceive without contraception, causes psychosocial burden for individuals and couples. This review summarized the interrelationship between infertility and psychological stress and suggested various forms of psychological intervention for infertility.
Methods
The PubMed, Google Scholar, and Korean Studies Information Service System databases were searched for English- and Korean-language articles published from 1990 to 2024.
Results
Infertility leads to emotional distress from diagnosis to treatment. Also, psychological stress affects the trajectory of infertility. This distress may cause psychiatric illnesses, negatively affecting pregnancy. Psychotherapies, psychopharmacotherapies, and biological treatments can be used for the management of psychiatric illnesses in infertile patients. Digital therapeutics also have the potential to be a competitive treatment option.
Conclusion
Regular assessment and management of psychological stress in infertile couples are essential during the course of infertility treatment. Psychological intervention of infertile patients should be implemented according to a personalized plan that completely reflects the individual clinical characteristics.

Keyword

Anxiety disorder; Depression; Emotional distress; Infertility; Psychological intervention