Psychological well-being and lifestyle factors related to female fertility

Abstract

Introduction: The psychological well-being and lifestyle factors have generated a considerable amount of interest. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 286 Hungarian women (195 infertile, 91 fertile) recruited online and in clinical setting. Participants completed self-administered measures (Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger Anxiety Inventory, the Fertility Quality of Life) including socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Calculated by independent t-tests (M±SD), and bivariate logistic regression (OR). Results: In comparison, infertile women were significantly (p<0,05) younger (34,25±4,93 vs. 35,74±5,73), their psychological status (BDI 14,04±12,49 vs. 8,52±9,99, STAI-T 48,63±10,73 vs. 41,18±11,26), were significantly (p<0,005) worse than their fertile counterparts. Core FertiQol score was significantly higher (68,78±12,94 vs. 61,64±17,26, p<0,005) in secondary than primary infertile group. The impact of lifestyle factors assessed that lower levels of fluid consumption (1,72±0,64 vs. 1,96±0,68) was significantly (p<0,05) associated with infertile women. Higher levels of fluid consumption affected the chance of 1,70 being in the fertile group (95% CI 2,49-1,16). Conclusion: This study identified differences of psychological and lifestyle factors between infertile and fertile women. Infertile women need psychological support and adequate detection of cause of female infertility.