NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Women who are stressed and anxious before in vitro fertilization (IVF) are no less likely to have a baby, new research suggests. But if the treatment fails, it may take a toll on their mental health.
In two separate studies in the journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers found women with anxiety or depression symptoms were just as likely as others to become pregnant.
One study focused on women undergoing IVF and the other followed women trying to conceive naturally.
“Our findings are consistent with the most recent research,” said Lauri A. Pasch, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, San Francisco Center for Reproductive Health, and the lead researcher on the IVF study.
Based on that body of research, she told Reuters Health, “I think we can safely say to women, “Stop worrying about being worried.”
Women should not feel pressured to be a “good IVF patient” who’s free of stress, Pasch said. And they should not blame themselves if they feel stressed out and their IVF attempt fails.
The other study, from the UK, looked at 339 women who were trying to become pregnant naturally.
