The quality of life of infertile Chinese Couples undergoing IVF

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A cross-sectional study of the quality of life (QOL) of infertile Chinese couples was conducted to evaluate the health status of infertile couples undergoing IVF treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: QOL was assessed by the Chinese version of the Medical Outcome Survey-Short Form 36 (MOS SF-36) and the Hong Kong Chinese version of the World Health Organization QOL Measure, Abbreviated Version [WHOQOL-BREF(HK)]. The questionnaires were distributed to couples who had just been recruited for IVF treatment, at the beginning of the treatment, after pregnancy testing and 6 months after the treatment. A total of 146 males and 147 females completed the questionnaires. RESULTS: Before treatment, the male subjects had better SF-36 scores in general health (mean 6 SD = 82.74 ± 16.65) and social functioning (84.26 ± 16.11) than the norm, and the female subjects had relatively lower SF-36 scores in bodily pain (73.52 ± 19.95) than the norm. The female subjects also had relatively lower scores in the WHOQOLBREF WHOQOLBREF(HK) psychological and physical domains than the norm. During treatment, the male subjects had higher scores in social functioning (87.50 ± 19.16) and the female subjects had lower scores in bodily pain (68.78 ± 23.97) and social functioning (77.74 ± 20.06) than the norm. The female subjects also had lower scores in the psychological domain (13.87 ± 2.03) than the norm. After the pregnancy test, the male subjects had higher SF-36 scores in social functioning (78.63 ± 20.96) and the female subjects had relatively lower SF-36 scores in physical role (35.94 ± 39.11), bodily pain (65.61 ± 24.19) and social functioning (67.05 ± 23.76) than the norm. The male subjects had relatively lower WHOQOLBREF(HK) scores in psychological and social relationships than did the female subjects. Six months after treatment, the male subjects had lower scores in bodily pain (76.51 ± 21.34) and much higher scores in social functioning (81.91 ± 18.39) than did their female counterparts, and the female subjects had lower scores in physical role (50 ± 42.35), bodily pain (64.06 ± 24.98) and social functioning (68.09 ± 24.70). CONCLUSIONS: IVF has a greater effect on females than males in terms of physical role, bodily pain and social functioning after treatment. Males have less bodily pain and retain more social functioning after treatment. Hence, gender speci®c care must be provided to couples undergoing IVF treatment.