Enrico Capuzzi1, Alice Caldiroli1, Veronica Ciscato2, Francesco Giuseppe Zanvit2, Valentina Bollati3, Jennifer L Barkin4, Massimo Clerici5, Massimiliano Buoli6. 1. Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy. 2. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, via Cadore 38, 20900 Monza (MB), Italy. 3. EPIGET-Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab-Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy. 4. Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, 1550 College Street, Macon, GA 31207, United States. 5. Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, via Cadore 38, 20900 Monza (MB), Italy. 6. Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: massimiliano.buoli@unimi.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Since mothers who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) may experience more anxiety and depressive symptoms than mothers who conceive naturally, a review of the literature was conducted to investigate whether IVF may be considered a risk factor for the development of anxiety or depression during pregnancy and post-partum. METHODS: A thorough search of articles in Pubmed, PsycINFO and Isi Web of Knowledge was performed in order to produce a comprehensive review regarding the potential association of in vitro fertilization and anxiety/depression. RESULTS: The search resulted in a total of 10 articles. Contradictory results were reported in the articles about the possible association between IVF and the occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms both during pregnancy and postpartum period. Three studies found that women who resorted to IVF showed less anxiety and depressive symptoms than those who conceived naturally especially with the progression of pregnancy and in the postpartum. LIMITATIONS: Vulnerability to affective disorders of women affected by infertility may be independent from the outcome of IVF. Other limits are the limited research in this area, the small sample sizes, the heterogeneity of the tools used to assess affective symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The available data indicate that IVF is not associated with perinatal affective symptoms. Women who resorted to IVF could have less perinatal depressive symptoms as the result of a positive outcome of the technique and the satisfaction of the desire to become mothers. Further studies are necessary in order to draw definitive conclusions about this topic.
BACKGROUND: Since mothers who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) may experience more anxiety and depressive symptoms than mothers who conceive naturally, a review of the literature was conducted to investigate whether IVF may be considered a risk factor for the development of anxiety or depression during pregnancy and post-partum. METHODS: A thorough search of articles in Pubmed, PsycINFO and Isi Web of Knowledge was performed in order to produce a comprehensive review regarding the potential association of in vitro fertilization and anxiety/depression. RESULTS: The search resulted in a total of 10 articles. Contradictory results were reported in the articles about the possible association between IVF and the occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms both during pregnancy and postpartum period. Three studies found that women who resorted to IVF showed less anxiety and depressive symptoms than those who conceived naturally especially with the progression of pregnancy and in the postpartum. LIMITATIONS: Vulnerability to affective disorders of women affected by infertility may be independent from the outcome of IVF. Other limits are the limited research in this area, the small sample sizes, the heterogeneity of the tools used to assess affective symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The available data indicate that IVF is not associated with perinatal affective symptoms. Women who resorted to IVF could have less perinatal depressive symptoms as the result of a positive outcome of the technique and the satisfaction of the desire to become mothers. Further studies are necessary in order to draw definitive conclusions about this topic.