Comparison of depression between primary and secondary infertile couples

Abstract

Objective

We aimed to compare the depression levels between primary and secondary infertile couples and to investigate the related factors that may affect depression.

Study design

Two hundred and fifty primary and secondary infertile couples, who admitted to Gynecology and Infertility Clinics of Pendik Teaching and Research Hospital affiliated with Marmara University were enrolled in this study. Sixty-four BMI-matched fertile female patients who applied to the General Gynecology Clinic and their husbands were taken as the control group. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) form was filled by the infertile couples to evaluate the depression status before they started their cycles.

Results

The mean total BDI scores were alike between groups among women. Mild depression was found to be higher in the primary infertile women and moderate depression was higher in women of the control group. Women had statistically higher depression scores than male partners. Primary infertile, secondary infertile, and fertile women had higher depression scores than their male partners in the corresponding groups. There was no significant difference in mean total BDI scores among males between the groups. The percentage of distribution of male partners in each level of depression was similar between the groups.

Conclusions

Only a weak positive correlation between the mean total BDI score and the number of previous treatment cycles was found. Psychiatric support before and during the upcoming fertility treatment might reduce the perception of the probable treatment failure.

摘要

目的：比较原发性和继发性不孕夫妇的抑郁状况, 探讨可能影响抑郁的相关因素。

研究设计：研究对象来自马尔马拉大学附属Pendik教研院妇科不孕症门诊, 包括250对原发性和继发性不孕的夫妇。对照组为在妇科门诊就诊的64例体重指数正常的育龄女性患者及其丈夫。不孕症夫妇在开始周期前填写贝克抑郁量表(BDI)以评估抑郁状态。

结果：不同组间女性的平均BDI总分是相似的。轻度抑郁在原发不孕症妇女中较高, 中度抑郁在对照组妇女中较高。从统计上看女性的抑郁评分高于男性伴侣。在相应的组中, 原发性不孕、继发性不孕和有生育能力的女性的抑郁评分高于她们的男性伴侣。各组男性的平均BDI总分没有显著差异。不同抑郁水平的男性伴侣在各组之间的分布比例相似。

结论：平均BDI总分与既往治疗周期数之间仅有弱的正相关。在生育治疗之前和治疗期间进行精神支持可能会减少治疗失败的发生。

Keywords:

• Infertility
• depression
• Beck's Depression Inventory

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.