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Infertility treatment and fertility-specific distress: A longitudinal analysis of a population-based sample of U.S. women

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  • Greil, Arthur L.
  • McQuillan, Julia
  • Lowry, Michele
  • Shreffler, Karina M.

Abstract

Because research on infertile women usually uses clinic-based samples of treatment seekers, it is difficult to sort out to what extent distress is the result of the condition of infertility itself and to what extent it is a consequence of the experience of infertility treatment. We use the National Survey of Fertility Barriers, a two-wave national probability sample of U.S. women, to disentangle the effects of infertility and infertility treatment on fertility-specific distress. Using a series of ANOVAs, we examine 266 infertile women who experienced infertility both at Wave 1 and at Wave 2, three years later. We compare eight groups of infertile women based on whether or not they have received treatment and on whether or not they have had a live birth. At Wave 1, infertile women who did not receive treatment and who had no live birth reported lower distress levels than women who received treatment at Wave 1 only, regardless of whether their infertility episode was followed by a live birth. At Wave 2, women who received no treatment have significantly lower fertility-specific distress than women who were treated at Wave 1 or at Waves 1 and 2, regardless of whether there was a subsequent live birth. Furthermore, fertility-specific distress did not increase over time among infertile women who did not receive treatment. The increase infertility-specific distress was significantly higher for women who received treatment at Wave 2 that was not followed by a live birth than for women who received no treatment or for women who received treatment at Wave 1 only. These patterns suggest that infertility treatment is associated with levels of distress over and above those associated with the state of being infertile in and of itself.

Suggested Citation

  • Greil, Arthur L. & McQuillan, Julia & Lowry, Michele & Shreffler, Karina M., 2011. "Infertility treatment and fertility-specific distress: A longitudinal analysis of a population-based sample of U.S. women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 87-94, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:73:y:2011:i:1:p:87-94
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mindes, Erica J. & Ingram, Kathleen M. & Kliewer, Wendy & James, Cathy A., 2003. "Longitudinal analyses of the relationship between unsupportive social interactions and psychological adjustment among women with fertility problems," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(10), pages 2165-2180, May.
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    3. White, Lynn & McQuillan, Julia & Greil, Arthur L. & Johnson, David R., 2006. "Infertility: Testing a helpseeking model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(4), pages 1031-1041, February.
    4. Malin, Maili & Hemminki, Elina & Räikkönen, Outi & Sihvo, Sinikka & Perälä, M-L, 2001. "What do women want? Women's experiences of infertility treatment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 123-133, July.
    5. Eugster, A. & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., 1999. "Psychological aspects of in vitro fertilization: a review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(5), pages 575-589, March.
    6. King, Rosalind Berkowitz, 2003. "Subfecundity and anxiety in a nationally representative sample," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(4), pages 739-751, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Almeling, Rene & Willey, Iris L., 2017. "Same medicine, different reasons: Comparing women's bodily experiences of producing eggs for pregnancy or for profit," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 21-29.
    2. Karina Shreffler & Stacy Tiemeyer & Cassandra Dorius & Tiffany Spierling & Arthur Greil & Julia McQuillan, 2016. "Infertility and fertility intentions, desires, and outcomes among US women," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(39), pages 1149-1168.
    3. Taina Sormunen & Arthur Aanesen & Bjöörn Fossum & Klas Karlgren & Margareta Westerbotn, 2018. "Infertility‐related communication and coping strategies among women affected by primary or secondary infertility," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1-2), pages 335-344, January.
    4. Jansen, Natalie Anne & Saint Onge, Jarron M., 2015. "An internet forum analysis of stigma power perceptions among women seeking fertility treatment in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 184-189.

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