Factors influencing infertility-related quality of life in infertile women

Abstract

Purpose: The rate of infertility in South Korea is steadily increasing. Infertile women experience various physical, psychological, and relational problems that affect their infertility–related quality of life (QoL). This study investigated infertile women’s infertility-related QoL with the goal of identifying how it is influenced by fatigue, depression, and marital intimacy.Methods: A sample of 140 infertile women was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from February to April 2018 using self-report structured questionnaires at three infertility clinics located in Jeonju, Korea. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis in SPSS for Windows version 25.0. The subjects agreed to complete a face-to-face interview, including administration of the Fatigue Severity Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Marital Intimacy Scale, and the Fertility Quality of Life tool.Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.6±4.3 years. Infertility-related QoL was negatively correlated with fatigue (r=–.42, p<.001) and depression (r=–.56, p<.001), and positively correlated with marital intimacy (r=.30, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that depression (β=–0.44, p<.001), fatigue (β=–0.27, p<.001), and husband’s attitude (β=–0.19, p=.007) had significant effects on the QoL of infertile women, accounting for 40.5% of the variance in infertility-related QoL. Conclusion: The study provides insights into how infertile women’s infertility-related QoL was influenced by depression, fatigue, and their husbands’ attitudes regarding infertility treatment. To improve infertile women’s infertility-related QoL, healthcare providers should consider developing strategies to decrease depression and fatigue in infertile women and to address their husbands’ attitudes.