Implications of psychosocial support in infertility – a critical appraisal

Abstract

Objective. Various psychosocial interventions have been recommended for infertile persons, but it remains unclear what their implications are, and if some of them might even be harmful under certain circumstances.

Methods. A survey is given of papers concerning the usefulness of psychosocial support in infertility.

Results. Providing procedural information concerning the technical aspects of infertility investigation probably facilitates coping with infertility and with assisted reproductive techniques. This information can be given in the form of booklets or educational films. Using the Internet is a fast and easy way to obtain information on infertility and its treatment, but with the risk of getting wrong or misleading information. Telephone counseling can be helpful in providing specific information about the infertility workup but it cannot replace face-to-face counseling on distressing psychosocial issues. Attendance at support groups can be recommended to strengthen coping abilities. Psychosocial counseling and psychotherapy are definitely effective in reducing negative affect, mostly within a short period of time (less than 10 sessions). Pregnancy rates are unlikely to be affected by psychosocial interventions.

Conclusion. Infertility counseling and support groups seem to be the most efficient psychosocial interventions in infertility. Therefore, infertility counseling should be available at all stages of medical therapy, and it should be free of charge for the persons attending it. Course, content and goals of the infertility counseling should be made transparent. The efficacy of support groups has to be evaluated more systematically. Several methodological questions have to be solved yet, and the generalizability of these results is still restricted.

Keywords:

• Preparatory information
• Internet
• telephone counseling
• support groups
• infertility counseling
• psychotherapy

Notes

¹Presented in part at the pre-congress course “Psychology and Counseling” of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Prague, Czech Republic at June 18, 2006 and at the XV International Congress of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISPOG) in Kyoto, Japan at May 15, 2007.