Title:Comparison of Psychological Disorders During and After Pregnancies
Caused by Assisted Reproductive Treatments and Spontaneous
Pregnancies
Volume: 23
Issue: 3
Author(s): Mahvash Zargar, Mehdi Sayyah, Roshan Nikbakht and Zahra Abdipour*
Affiliation:
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur
University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Keywords:
Mental health, pregnant woman, infertility, assisted reproductive techniques, mental disorders, psychological disorders.
Abstract:
Introduction: Mental disorders during pregnancy are one of the major public health
problems because of its effect on both mother and child, but the prevalence of psychiatric disorders
in infertile women is largely unknown to compare psychiatric disorders during and after
pregnancies with assisted reproductive therapies (ART) and spontaneous pregnancies.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women referring to midwifery
centers in Ahvaz City in 2022. Pregnant women were included in two groups of either pregnancy
caused by ART (n= 84) or spontaneous pregnancy (n= 256). The Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-
90-R) was used to assess psychiatric disorders during and after pregnancies.
Results: A high percentage of women with spontaneous pregnancy (74.6%) and ART (91.7%) had
some degree of psychological disorders. The severity of psychological disorders in both groups
was higher during pregnancy than after pregnancy (p<0.001). The intensity of various psychological
disorders during and after pregnancy in the ART pregnancy group was significantly higher
than the control group (p<0.001). An increased risk of psychiatric disorders during pregnancy was
associated with the history of psychiatric disorders [odd ratio (OR): 12.393; P= 0.022], family history
of psychiatric disorders (OR:26.168; p<0.001), history of infertility (OR: 19.00; p<0.001),
primary infertility (OR: 12.714; P=0.004), infertility duration more than three years (OR: 43.424;
p<0.001), and frequency of embryo transfer (OR: 18.939; P=0.045).
Conclusion: Psychiatric disorders were prevalent among pregnant women in the study area especially
in pregnant women with ART. Regular screening programs for mental health problem
should be included in an antenatal care service especially in this high-risk group.
