Impact of primary care posttraumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD) on fertility problem of Iranian women with infertility during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background

Infertility continued to be a major stressor among women with infertility during COVID-19pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of primary care posttraumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD) on fertility problem of Iranian women with infertility during COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

In this cross-sectional study, 386 women with infertility completed the questionnaires of PC-PTSD-5 and Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) at an infertility center between 2020 and 2022.

Results

The mean of fertility problems was 145.20 (± 32.31). In terms of FPI subscales, the means were as follows: Sexual concern 21.80 (± 7.58), social concern 26.53 (± 8.94), relationship concern 26.02 (± 9.18), need for parenthood concern 40.88 (± 8.98), and rejection of childfree lifestyle 29.96 (± 7.69). The highest mean of FPI subscales was related to the need for parenthood concern in women with infertility. The strongest correlation was found between the subscales of sexual concern and social concern followed by sexual concern and relationship concern. The variables of PC-PTSD were a predictor of fertility problems (β = 0.203, P < .0001). Additionally, the variables of PC-PTSDwere a predictor of sexual concern (β = 0.248, P < .0001), social concern (β = 0.237, P < .0001), relationship concern (β = 0.143, P < .020), and need for parenthood concern (β = 0.101, P < .010). After adjusting for demographic characteristics, there was a significant relationship between FPI with job (β=-0.118, P < .031), education (β=-0.130, P < .023), living place (β = 0.115, P < .035), smoking (β = 0.113, P < .036), relationship with husband (β = 0.118, P < .027), and PC-PTSD symptom (β = 0.158, P < .0001). In addition, the multivariate linear regression showed a significant association between sexual concern and education (β=-0.152, P < .008), smoking (β = 0.129, P < .018), PC-PTSD symptom (β = 0.207, P < .0001); social concern and job (β=-0.119, P < .033), PC-PTSD symptom (β = 0.205, P < .0001); relationship concern and education (β=-0.121, P < .033), living place (β = 0.183, P < .001), relationship with husband (β = 0.219, P < .0001); and rejection of childfree lifestyle and job (β=-0.154, P < .007).

Conclusion

Systematic PTSD screening during COVID-19 pandemic by healthcare providers can be uniquely used to identify, evaluate, and treat trauma-related health conditions in infertility settings, which can link women with infertility to mental health services. This can be novel and useful for future policymakers and practitioners in the infertility field.