Influência da satisfação conjugal e do estresse em mulheres sob tratamento de fertilização in vitro

Abstract

One of the most commonly used assisted reproduction techniques today is in vitro fertilization (IVF), but an average worldwide success rate observed by this therapy is about 30%. Physiological and psychological aspects seem to contribute to the treatment outcome. Thus, this study analyzed how psychophysiological stress (psychological stress being assessed by the Lipp’s Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults and by the Fertility Problems Inventory; physiological stress assessed by salivary cortisol awakening reactivity) and marital satisfaction (assessed by dyadic adjustment, sexual satisfaction and attachment style) are related with the outcome of IVF, and whether any of these parameters predict treatment success. This was an exploratory study carried out at the Januário Cicco Maternity School of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, throughout 2017, with 20 women in their first cycle of IVF. It was seen that the participants who were successful in the treatment, that is, who became pregnant, had greater dyadic cohesion, greater sexual satisfaction and lower cortisol levels. Dyadic cohesion proved to be a predictor of success. A greater adjustment and dyadic consensus were related to the absence of stress, with the dyadic consensus being a predictor of the absence of stress. In fact, most of the sample was free from psychological stress, and the women with stress levels within the normal range were those with the preoccupied attachment style. These results highlight the importance of low cortisol levels and a good marital relationship for the success of IVF. Therefore, strategies that helps patients to deal with stressor of treatment and marital relationship should be studied and implemented aiming increase the FIV success rates. It is also important highlight the necessity of further studies to better understand the relationship of these psychophysiological factors with the outcome of IVF in a larger sample, as well as to assess the profile of women seeking treatment in private clinics, which may vary from the profile found in this study of a population sample of lower socioeconomic status with treatment paid for by the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), Unified Health System in English.