Estados emocionais de casais submetidos à fertilização in vitro

Success of in vitro fertilization and its association with the levels of psychophysiological stress before and during the treatment

Despite the advance of assisted reproduction, high rates of failure in treatment are still observed. Herein, we investigated how the psychophysiological stress profiles of patients can modulate the in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) outcome. The women who had failure in IVF (n = 13; 65%) had higher baseline salivary cortisol awakening response and anxiety-state during treatment than patients who became pregnant (n = 7; 35%). Patients with major stress levels and religious coping style showed lower social support, which was correlated with higher anxiety. Therefore, we appointed stress modulators that negatively affect IVF and should be improved aiming to increase its success.

Grupo de Apoio Psicológico a Mulheres em Situação de Infertilidade

Resumo Este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever um relato de experiência a partir de um Programa de Intervenção com mulheres em situação de infertilidade. Tal Programa faz parte do Projeto de Extensão da UEL/PR, na área da Psicologia, com fundamento na Análise do Comportamento. Foram realizados dois grupos, compostos por sete mulheres cada, de Londrina e região, entre 31 e 42 anos, em situação de infertilidade conjugal. Realizou-se 10 sessões, de aproximadamente duas horas cada, semanalmente. Após dois meses do término, realizou-se sessões de follow-up. Os procedimentos utilizados foram técnicas de dinâmica de grupo, técnicas da Análise do Comportamento, como modelagem e modelação, Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso (ACT) e Psicoterapia Analítica funcional (FAP). Realizou-se avaliações qualitativas por meio de dados obtidos com os relatos das participantes. A partir da fala das participantes, puderam ser percebidas mudanças em seus comportamentos, tanto dentro das sessões quanto em seu ambiente natural, de acordo com seus relatos verbais. A intervenção grupal tem o potencial de promover a aprendizagem de um repertório de enfrentamento das dificuldades relacionadas à infertilidade, o fortalecimento de aspectos positivos no relacionamento conjugal e social, além da aceitação emocional e seu manejo. Durante as sessões de follow-up, quatro participantes relataram estar dando início ao processo de adoção e, cinco participantes conseguiram atingir a gravidez. Sugere-se a replicação deste Programa com este tipo de população, bem como estudos com controle de variáveis.

ESHRE guideline: routine psychosocial care in infertility and medically assisted reproduction-a guide for fertility staff

STUDY QUESTION

Based on the best available evidence in the literature, what is the optimal management of routine psychosocial care at infertility and medically assisted reproduction (MAR) clinics?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Using the structured methodology of the Manual for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Guideline Development, 120 recommendations were formulated that answered the 12 key questions on optimal management of routine psychosocial care by all fertility staff.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN

The 2002 ESHRE Guidelines for counselling in infertility has been a reference point for best psychosocial care in infertility for years, but this guideline needed updating and did not focus on routine psychosocial care that can be delivered by all fertility staff.

STUDY, DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This guideline was produced by a group of experts in the field according to the 12-step process described in the ESHRE Manual for Guideline Development. After scoping the guideline and listing a set of 12 key questions in PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome) format, thorough systematic searches of the literature were conducted; evidence from papers published until April 2014 was collected, evaluated for quality and analysed. A summary of evidence was written in a reply to each of the key questions and used as the basis for recommendations, which were defined by consensus within the guideline development group (GDG). Patient and additional clinical input was collected during the scoping and the review phase of the guideline development.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The guideline group, comprising psychologists, two medical doctors, a midwife, a patient representative and a methodological expert, met three times to discuss evidence and reach consensus on the recommendations.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE THE GUIDELINE PROVIDES

120 recommendations that aim at guiding fertility clinic staff in providing optimal evidence-based routine psychosocial care to patients dealing with infertility and MAR. The guideline is written in two sections. The first section describes patients' preferences regarding the psychosocial care they would like to receive at clinics and how this care is associated with their well-being. The second section of the guideline provides information about the psychosocial needs patients experience across their treatment pathway (before, during and after treatment) and how fertility clinic staff can detect and address these. Needs refer to conditions assumed necessary for patients to have a healthy experience of the fertility treatment. Needs can be behavioural (lifestyle, exercise, nutrition and compliance), relational (relationship with partner if there is one, family friends and larger network, and work), emotional (well-being, e.g. anxiety, depression and quality of life) and cognitive (treatment concerns and knowledge).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

We identified many areas in care for which robust evidence was lacking. Gaps in evidence were addressed by formulating good practice points, based on the expert opinion of the GDG, but it is critical for such recommendations to be empirically validated.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The evidence presented in this guideline shows that providing routine psychosocial care is associated with or has potential to reduce stress and concerns about medical procedures and improve lifestyle outcomes, fertility-related knowledge, patient well-being and compliance with treatment. As only 45 (36.0%) of the 125 recommendations were based on high-quality evidence, the guideline group formulated recommendations to guide future research with the aim of increasing the body of evidence.