<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Introduction</bold>: Infertility represents a major health problem that oftentimes is experienced as a crisis situation. Because it interposes with achieving an important life goal, that of having children, its implications on the psycho-emotional level are robust.
<bold>Purpose:</bold> The present article aimed at exploring the multidimensional effects of infertility on mental health, as well as suitable psychological intervention strategies for patients both at an individual and couple level.
<bold>Methodology:</bold> An extensive literature review was conducted to select the most relevant information. Articles included were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar and other similar databases within a seven years interval (2014-2021) to assure the up-to-date quality of the paper. The main criteria of inclusion were: studies about the consequences of infertility on mental health, epidemiology, risk and protective factors, psychological models for infertility, psychological evaluation, established instruments, psycho-social and therapeutic interventions, intervention protocols used in public health for infertility patients.
<bold>Results and Discussion:</bold> Infertility is often experienced as a crisis situation, in which the most common consequences are visible at the level of mood disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression, marked distress) and at the social level (stigma, divorce, social isolation, financial difficulties). Psychological counseling is needed throughout medical treatment and therapeutic interventions (e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy) have shown favorable results in managing the emotional balance of the individual/couple and reducing the risk of psychopathology.
<bold>Conclusions:</bold> Research highlights the beneficial effects of psychological interventions on reducing levels of stress related to infertility, anxiety and depressive symptoms and on improving the quality of life and couple dynamics.
</abstract>

Introduction: Infertility represents a major health problem that oftentimes is experienced as a crisis situation. Because it interposes with achieving an important life goal, that of having children, its implications on the psycho-emotional level are robust.
Purpose: The present article aimed at exploring the multidimensional effects of infertility on mental health, as well as suitable psychological intervention strategies for patients both at an individual and couple level.
Methodology: An extensive literature review was conducted to select the most relevant information. Articles included were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar and other similar databases within a seven years interval (2014-2021) to assure the up-to-date quality of the paper. The main criteria of inclusion were: studies about the consequences of infertility on mental health, epidemiology, risk and protective factors, psychological models for infertility, psychological evaluation, established instruments, psycho-social and therapeutic interventions, intervention protocols used in public health for infertility patients.
Results and Discussion: Infertility is often experienced as a crisis situation, in which the most common consequences are visible at the level of mood disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression, marked distress) and at the social level (stigma, divorce, social isolation, financial difficulties). Psychological counseling is needed throughout medical treatment and therapeutic interventions (e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy) have shown favorable results in managing the emotional balance of the individual/couple and reducing the risk of psychopathology.
Conclusions: Research highlights the beneficial effects of psychological interventions on reducing levels of stress related to infertility, anxiety and depressive symptoms and on improving the quality of life and couple dynamics.

The psychological impact of infertility. Directions for the development of interventions

Mental Health: Global Challenges

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Introduction: Infertility represents a major health problem that oftentimes is experienced as a crisis situation. Because it interposes with achieving an...

The psychological impact of infertility. Directions for the development of interventions

Published Online: Feb 04, 2023

Page range: 22 - 37

Received: Aug 10, 2021

Accepted: Oct 24, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32437/mhgcj.v4i1.113

Keywords
infertility, risk factors, protective factors, psychological interventions, infertility-related stress

© 2021 Ana-Maria Vioreanu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

The psychological impact of infertility. Directions for the development of interventions

Published Online: Feb 04, 2023

Page range: 22 - 37

Received: Aug 10, 2021

Accepted: Oct 24, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32437/mhgcj.v4i1.113

Keywordsinfertility, risk factors, protective factors, psychological interventions, infertility-related stress

© 2021 Ana-Maria Vioreanu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Keywords
infertility, risk factors, protective factors, psychological interventions, infertility-related stress