Dados do Trabalho

Title

Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected mental health in the same way in infertile and fertile patients?

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of many people around the world, and for infertile women, the challenges have been even greater. The pandemic has led to a postponement of fertility treatments and this may have exacerbated the levels of stress, anxiety and depression in these women. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the levels of anxiety, depression, stress of infertile and fertile women.

Methods

Prospective cohort study that evaluated the rates of anxiety, depression and stress using the DASS scale in two moments, at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic (Phase 1), when infertile patients had to suspend their treatments and after 6 months of the pandemic (Phase 2). The study group comprised of infertile women (Infertile group, N=37) and the control group comprised of fertile women (fertile group, N=33).
Inclusion criteria:
- Infertile group: women with more than one year of infertility, with indication of In-Vitro fertilization, and who were going to transfer their embryos and had to suspend the transfer due to the pandemic.
- Control group: fertile women who gave birth more than 6 months ago and never had difficulty in becoming pregnant.
The study was approved by the National Research Ethics Committee under CAAE number 32964620.3.1001.5334.

Results

Mean age was higher in the infertile group (35.5 vs 37.8, P=0.001).
In phase 1 of the study, comparing the fertile group vs. the infertile group, we found: higher levels of stress (5.6 vs 7.7, P=0.018) and depression (2.3 vs 4.0, P=0.002) in the infertile group, and similar rates of anxiety (2.7 vs 3.4, P=0.389).
In phase 2 of the study, comparing the fertile group vs. the infertile group, we found: levels of stress (3.1 vs 3.7, P=0.201), depression (3.5 vs 4.0, P=0.446), and anxiety (5.4 vs 5.8, P=0.666).
Comparing the two phases, we found a significant decrease in stress (P=0.027), similar levels of anxiety (P=0.101) and worsening of depression levels (P=0.006).

Conclusion

At the beginning of the pandemic, when assisted reproduction treatments were suspended, infertile patients were more stressed and depressed than the control group, probably due to the delay in treatment and the difficulty in getting pregnant. After 6 months, there was a decrease in stress, possibly due to the lockdown, with removal from the day-to-day rush. On the other hand, there was an increase in the levels of anxiety and depression, possibly because it is a period associated with the fear of losing a loved one.

Keywords

Infertility, COVID-19, Stress, Anxiety, Depression.