This is an automatically translated article.
The article was written by MSc Nguyen Thi Hoa - Psychological consultant, Psychological Clinic, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.Infertility is gradually becoming a burden for the medical industry, besides it is a threat, and the potential to create negative psychological effects directly affecting health. mental.
1. How does infertility affect depression?
According to Harvard University's fertility center, each year in the United States, about 1.3 million patients receive counseling or treatment for infertility and have psychological problems. Infertility causes many negative experiences such as anxiety, guilt, pain, and despair. Feelings of stress and depression that appear often can lead to depression. In addition, according to some studies, depression also affects the ability to conceive, the results of assisted reproductive treatment.
Infertile people often experience emotional distress. Common reactions include grief, depression, anger and frustration, as well as low self-esteem, guilt, sometimes guilt, and feelings of helplessness.
Infertile people's relationships can be affected - not only the primary relationship with their partner, but also those with friends and family members. Infertile couples may avoid socializing with friends who are pregnant and families with children. They may struggle with anxiety-related sexual dysfunction and other marital conflicts.
A number of reasons why people undergoing fertility treatment are more likely to become depressed, including:
Stress: Infertility can cause a lot of stress in life, especially with women. Women are under a lot of pressure from the husband's family. Some stressful issues. Worry about money. The cost of infertility treatment is quite large. For patients who cannot afford treatment, the inability to receive treatment can contribute to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Treatment options. Infertility interventions can help patients become parents. It can be a lot of fun, but at the same time they have to learn to adjust to new roles and pressures both during pregnancy and after the baby is born. Treatment results. Treatment failure can cause distress, feelings of helplessness, and despair. Most patients have a difficult time making the transition from wanting to have children to accepting that they will have to pursue adoption or not have children. Side effects of the drug: Infertility drugs often focus on stimulating the hormones. Sometimes, altering these hormones can affect a person's mood, increasing the likelihood of developing depressive symptoms.
Những người vô sinh hiếm muộn thường trải qua những cảm xúc đau khổ
2. Can depression affect fertility?
Depression can also lead to bad lifestyle habits, which negatively affect your chances of getting pregnant. Appetite is often affected and being overweight or underweight can be a weak risk factor for infertility. Drinking or smoking can start or increase with depression and anxiety can also damage fertility. Sleep disturbances are also linked to depression (and some fertility drugs) and can have a negative impact on fertility.Depression can affect psychological well-being and prevent infertile patients from seeking treatment. Psychological factors are independently associated with treatment outcomes in IVF/ICSI, and should therefore be taken into account in patient counseling prior to initiating assisted reproductive therapy.
This is important because psychological factors can be improved by intervention, while several other risk factors are associated with infertility such as demographic factors and some secondary factors faculty did not improve.
3. Symptoms of Depression
Usually, a person still has times of sadness, depression. However, when these emotions persist, creating negative changes that affect quality of life, they are most likely signs of depression.When a person develops more than 5 of the following symptoms, lasting 2 weeks or more, the person is considered depressed (DSM-5):
Persistent depressed mood. Loss of interest in most everyday activities, even activities that were previously enjoyed. Weight loss/gain that is not due to intentional dietary modification or other medical conditions. Too much sleep or lack of sleep. Feeling irritable or sluggish. Lifeless. Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, guilt. Reduced ability to concentrate and think. Often thinking about death or suicide.
Triệu chứng của trầm cảm là gì?
4. Treatment
Advise. Ideally, counseling is recommended before a patient begins infertility treatment, as some studies suggest that addressing psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and stress can help increase the chances of having a baby. .Psychiatrists can provide information on how to manage fatigue, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve communication with others. Psychotherapy. Specific types of therapy may also be helpful. For example, studies have concluded that interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can help alleviate mild to moderate depression in infertile patients. Researchers have shown that psychotherapy can be helpful for anxiety or depression whether treated individually, in couples, or in a group. Relaxation techniques. Experts say that infertility and its treatment often cause considerable stress, and they recommend different relaxation techniques. For example, mindfulness meditation, deep breathing...promotes stress management. Medicine. Antidepressants and anxiolytics are helpful when symptoms are moderate to severe. However, the risk of the drug to the developing fetus must be considered when a woman is taking psychotropic drugs. In addition, some fertility drugs can interact with psychotropic drugs. It is important for patients and clinicians to consider all of these factors when making dosing decisions.Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
