Infertility profile, psychological ramifications and reproductive tract infection among infertile women, in northern upper Egypt

Abstract

Background and objective: Reproductive tract infections (RTI) can have serious consequences, such as miscarriage and infertility. Infertility is a growing universal phenomenon, “crossed nearly all cultures and societies almost all over the World”, that has a tremendous impact on women’s quality of life and their psychological well-being. This is due to various stress and anxiety factors experienced by them at each stage of their life. To decrease and prevent developing psychological distress the psychological aspects of infertility should be receive more attention. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence rate of reproductive tract infections and the psychological consequences amongst those women who were infertile in relation to their sociodemographic characteristics, fertility history, assisted reproductive technology (ART) and RTI.

Methods: Interview questionnaire with a convenience sample of 399 infertile women who were admitted to inpatient wards and/or attending to outpatient gynecological and infertility clinics at University Hospital, Health insurance Hospital and general Hospital in Beni-Suef City.

Results: About 27.6% of study subjects had reproductive tract infections. Socio-cultural factors, gynecological issues, reproductive tract infections aggravated psychological distress amongst those women who were infertile in Northern Upper Egypt. A highly statistically significant deviation was observed (p = .000).

Conclusions: Negative psychological consequences of childlessness are common and morbid in Northern, Upper Egyptian infertile women. Furthermore, infertility and psychological distress are associated in a complex way, which has to be taken care by the nurses and the clinicians to promote the quality of life of the women undergoing infertility treatment.