Struggling with Primary Infertility: Psychological Well-Being and Associated Factors in North Indian Women

Abstract

The study aimed to understand the effect of primary infertility on the psychological well-being of women. In addition, the study has assessed the impact of socio-demographic variables, reproductive trajectories and lifestyle variables on psychological well-being independently and in light of their dynamic interaction among North Indian women. This study was conducted among 250 infertile women with primary infertility attending the Gynaecology OPD and 250 age-matched fertile women from Delhi. Pretested quantitative interview schedule and WHO-5 perceived well-being scale were used for data collection. The results depicted that infertile women were found to have higher prevalence of poor psychological well-being than fertile women. Of all the variables, education, duration of infertility, physical activity, exercise, sleep pattern and family structure were significantly associated with the psychological well-being of infertile women. Infertility is a major cause of the decline in psychological well-being in infertile women. In most hospitals and infertility clinics, women are treated for infertility, but their psychological well-being is often ignored. To improve the psychological well-being of women dealing with primary infertility, infertility education and awareness, physical activity and family counselling must be integrated into the infertility treatment.