Psychosocial factors, female fertility and pregnancy: a prospective study — Part I: Fertility

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine prospectively whether psychosocial, personality-related or stress factors have influence on fertility. Initially 191 healthy nulliparas without a history of infertility who were planning to have children were studied gynecologically and by psychiatric examination. Life changes and changes in psychosocial stress were monitored throughout the study period of 6 months at regular intervals. The following factors turned out to be associated with higher than average fertility in the final follow-up sample of 180 women: looking younger than one's actual age, no fluctuation in body weight before pregnancy, low consumption of coffee, low score of psychosomatic symptoms, being the youngest sibling, low number of negative life changes, younger than spouse, having phobic traits, and customarily religious. There was no clearcut association between low fertility and deviations in personality factors.

Key Words:

• Fertility
• Stress
• Personality
• Prospective Studies