Stress is 'not a factor in IVF success'

Last updated at 11:35 25 August 2005


The stress and anxiety often suffered by women having fertility treatment does not affect their chances of becoming pregnant, researchers said today. The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, is good news for women who fear their understandable feelings of anxiety when having IVF might damage their chances of success.

Past research about the effect of psychological stress on IVF success has been conflicting, with some studies finding a link and others not. Dr Lisbeth Anderheim and colleagues from University Hospital in Gothenburg said their own research found no link between stress and the chances of IVF being a success.

"This means that we can use these findings to reassure women and this information should, in itself, help to reduce their stress and worry levels, Dr Anderheim said. IVF - in vitro fertilisation - is an expensive procedure which can cost as much as £2,000 per cycle for a couple who have private treatment.

Low success rates

But success is not guaranteed, meaning many couples have to undergo several attempts before they become pregnant. Earlier this year the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) revealed that the average success rate for IVF for women under 35 was just 27.6 per cent.

But some clinics achieve more than twice this rate, while others see less successes. For the latest study researchers questioned 139 women having IVF about their general well-being, their emotions, health and relationship with their partner. Of these women, 58 became pregnant and 81 did not. The results from the questionnaires showed that there was no difference between those who became pregnant and those who did not.

Dr Anderheim said: "The only variable that was significantly associated with pregnancy was the number of good quality embryos transferred." The researcher said they could not rule out the possibility that women may have been keeping their worries to themselves when answering questions before treatment began and shortly before their eggs were retrieved.

But she said that their failure to establish a link between stress and the chances of conceiving with IVF was encouraging. "During IVF treatment patients frequently ask about the relationship between psychological stress and outcome and often express worries that their own stress might have a negative influence, so the fact that our prospective study did not indicate any relationship is reassuring.

"This is a positive message we can give our patients to help decrease their stress at this time," Dr Anderheim said.

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