Self-help counselling can relieve anxiety for women undergoing fertility treatment, says University of Hong Kong study
Researchers note that about 40 pc of women who had unsuccessful test-tube baby procedures showed borderline or severe anxiety
Self-help counselling could help relieve anxiety symptoms in women undergoing fertility treatment.
A University of Hong Kong study found that about 40 per cent of women who had experienced unsuccessful test-tube baby procedures showed signs of anxiety. The study, done by the university from 2013 to 2015, assessed 151 women who had had unsuccessful in vitro fertilisation.
The results showed that 39.1 per cent of the women showed significant signs of anxiety after learning the treatment result, meaning their anxiety level was either borderline or severe. The condition persisted even after between one and three months for about 34 per cent of the participants.
“They might have insomnia, a quicker heartbeat and a rise in blood pressure,” said Dr Celia Chan Hoi-yan, assistant professor in the university’s department of social work and social administration.
Around 18.6 per cent of the participants also displayed symptoms of depression after getting the news.
Chan said the most stressful time for the women was the period between having the fertilised embryo transferred into the body and knowing the results, which took around 14 days in general.