Age and Women’s Infertility: National and Foreign Researches’ Review

The article attempts to review national and foreign studies over the past twenty years on the problem of psychological characteristics of women diagnosed with infertility in different age groups. The review provides a definition of infertility recommended by WHO, briefly analyzes the evolution of views on the psychological origins of infertility: the psychosomatic model, popular at the beginning of the 20th century, and the modern biopsychosocial approach are considered. The emphasis is on the age-specific experience of infertility as an individual psychological reaction to the diagnosis. The problem of age-related infertility and its prevalence in the modern world is being raised. Medical aspects of impaired fertility are described, such as decreased quality and quantity of eggs cells. The relationship between stress, infertility and age is revealed. The factors influencing the risk of developing anxiety and depressive symptoms during treatment are analyzed, as well as psychological reasons for refusal of treatment. The connection between the socio-cultural context and the psycho-emotional state of infertile women is emphasized. The review studies the psychological consequences of infertility in developing countries, as well as in countries with pronatalist policies.

1. Belan E.A. Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskie osobennosti i individual'no-lichnostnye pokazateli zhenshchin, perezhivayushchikh besplodie kak lichnostnyi krizis na osnove proektivnykh metodov [Socio-psychological characteristics and individual-personal indicators of women experiencing inf ertility as a personal crisis based on projective methods] [Electronic resource]. Metodologiya sovremennoi psikhologii [Methodology of modern psychology], 2021, no. 14, pp. 21—30. URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=46584023 (Accessed 01.08.2024). (In Russ.).
2. Bityutskaya E.V., Vorontsova E.V. Osobennosti vospriyatiya reproduktivnykh trudnostei u zhenshchin s raznoi napravlennost'yu kopinga [Perception of reproductive difculties in women with diferent coping orientations]. Natsional'nyi psikhologicheskii zhurnal = National Psychological Journal, 2023. Vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 46—65. DOI:10.11621/npj.2023.0204 (In Russ.).
3. Kargol' I.V. Psikhologicheskie aspekty izucheniya zhenskogo besplodiya [Psychological aspects of studying female infertility] [Electronic resource]. Nauchnye Vedomosti Belgorodskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta = Scientific Bulletin of Belgorod State University, 2012, no. 18 (137), pp. 202—208. URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=20781869 (Accessed 01.08.2024). (In Russ.).
4. Loshak-Geller E.S. Psikhologicheskie prichiny prekrashcheniya lecheniya besplodiya metodom VRT [Psychological reasons for stopping infertility treatment using ART] [Electronic resource]. Vestnik meditsinskogo instituta «Reaviz»: Reabilitatsiya, vrach i zdorov'e [Bulletin of the Medical Institute "Reaviz": Rehabilitation, doctor and health], 2022, no. 2 (приложения), pp. 283—284. URL: https://vestnik.reaviz.ru/jour/article/view/474/323 (Accessed 01.08.2024). (In Russ.).
5. Galimova E.F., Gromenko Yu.Yu., Yenikeyev D.A., Galimov Sh.N. Redoks-potentsial i reproduktivnoe zdorov'e: poisk aktual'nykh markerov besplodiya [Redox potential and reproductive health: searching for current markers of infertility] [Electronic resource]. Vestnik Bashkirskogo gosudarstvennogo meditsinskogo universiteta [Bulletin of Bashkir State Medical University], 2021. № 1. С. 13—19. URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=45627044 (Accessed 01.08.2024). (In Russ.).
6. Suchocka L., Pasek M., Blicharz M., Leonidova G.V. Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskaya podderzhka par pri lechenii besplodiya (na primere pol'skogo issledovaniya) [Social and psychological support of couples in treating infertility (case study of the polish research)]. Economic and social changes: facts, trends, forecast = Ekonomicheskie i sotsial'nye peremeny: fakty, tendentsii, prognoz, 2021. Vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 188—200. DOI:10.15838/esc.2021.2.74.12 (In Russ.).
7. Tliashinova I.A., Mingazova E.N. Psikhologicheskie aspekty v problemakh besplodiya sredi naseleniya razlichnykh stran [Psychological aspects in the problems of infertility among the population of various countries]. Menedzher zdravookhraneniya = Manager Zdravoohranenia, 2021, no. 8, pp. 61—69. DOI:10.21045/1811-0185-2021-8-61-69 (In Russ.).
8. Chua S.J., Danhof N.A., Mochtar M.H. et al. Age-related natural fertility outcomes in women over 35 years: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. Human Reproduction, 2020. Vol. 35, no. 8, pp. 1808—1820. DOI:10.1093/humrep/deaa29
9. Boivin J., Gameiro S. Evolution of psychology and counseling in infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 2015. Vol. 104, no. 2, pp. 251—259. DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.05.035
10. Domar A.D. Impact of psychological factors on dropout rates in insured infertility patients. Fertility and sterility, 2004. Vol. 81, no. 2, pp. 271—273. DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.08.013
11. Naforska M., Zych B., Obrzut B., Darmochwal-Kolarz D. Factors affecting self-esteem and disease acceptance in patients from infertile couples. Frontiers in Public Health, 2023. Vol. 11, article ID 1177340. 9 p. DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1177340
12. ESHRE Capri Workshop Group. Fertility and ageing. Human reproduction update, 2005. Vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 261—276. DOI:10.1093/humupd/dmi006
13. Greil A.L. A secret stigma: the analogy between infertility and chronic illness and disability [Electronic resource]. Advances in Medical Sociology, 1991. Vol. 2, pp. 17—38. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285479566 (Accessed 01.08.2024).
14. Greil A.L. Infertility and psychological distress: a critical review of the literature. Social Science and Medicine, 1997. Vol. 45, no. 11, pp. 1679—1704. DOI:10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00102-0
15. Greil A.L., Klauson-Blevins S., McQuillan J. The Experience of Infertility: A Review of Recent Literature. Sociology of health & illness, 2009. Vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 140—162. DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9566.2009.01213.x
16. Hess R.F., Ross R., GilillandJr J.L. Infertility, Psychological Distress, and Coping Strategies among Women in Mali, West Africa: A Mixed-Methods Study. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 2018. Vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 60—72. DOI:10.29063/ajrh2018/v22i1.6
17. Karunyam B.V., Abdul Karim A.K., Naina Mohamed I., Ugusman A., Mohamed W.M.Y., Faizal A.M., Abu M.A., Kumar J. Infertility and cortisol: a systematic review. Frontiers in endocrinology, 2023. Vol. 14, article ID 1147306. 19 p. DOI:10.3389/fendo.2023.1147306
18. World Health Organization. Infertility prevalence estimates, 1990—2021 [Electronic resource]. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2023. 79 p. URL: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/978920068315 (Accessed 05.08.2024).
19. Tabatabaee A., Fallahi A., Shakeri B., Baghi V., Gheshlagh R. Marital satisfaction in Iranian infertile women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 2022. Vol. 10, article ID 1027005. 10 p. DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1027005
20. Miall C. Perceptions of informal sanctioning and the stigma of involuntary childlessness. Deviant Behaviour, 1985. Vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 383—403. DOI:10.1080/01639625.1985.9967686
21. Van den Broeck U., D'Hooghe T., Enzlin P., Demyttenaere K. Predictors of psychological distress in patients starting IVF treatment: Infertility-specific versus general psychological characteristics. Human reproduction, 2010. Vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 1471—1480. DOI:10.1093/humrep/deq030
22. Liang S., Chen Y., Wang Q., Chen H., Cui C., Xu X. Prevalence and associated factors of infertility among 20—49-year-old women in Henan Province, China. Reproductive Health, 2021. Vol. 18, article ID 254. 13 p. DOI:10.1186/s12978-021-01298-2
23. Lazzari E., Potančoková M., Sobotka T., Gray E., Chambers G. Projecting the Contribution of Assisted Reproductive Technology to Completed Cohort Fertility. Population Research and Policy Review, 2023. Vol. 42, article ID 6. 22 p. DOI:10.1007/s11113-023-09765-3
24. Karimzadeh M., Salsabili N., Asbagh F.A., Teymouri R., Pourmand G., Naeini T.S. Psychological Disorders among Iranian Infertile Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) [Electronic resource]. Iranian journal of public health, 2017. Vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 333—341. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28435819/ (Accessed 05.08.2024).
25. ALSumri H., Szatkowski L., Gibson J., Fiaschi L., Bains M. Psychosocial Impacts of Infertility among Omani Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Fertility & Sterility, 2023. Vol 17, no. 2, pp. 107—114. DOI:10.22074/IJFS.2022.550111.1310
26. Thara R., Ramachandran V., Hassan P. Psychological aspects of infertility [Electronic resource]. Indian journal of psychiatry, 1986. Vol. 28, pp. 329—334. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51651432_Psychological_aspects_of_infertility (Accessed 01.08.2024).
27. Thorn P. Understanding Infertility: Psychological and Social Considerations from a Counselling Perspective. International Journal of Fertility and Sterility, 2009. Vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 48—51. DOI:10.22074/IJFS.2009.45746
28. Scaravelli G., Fedele F., Spoletini R., Monaco S., Renzi A., Di Trani M. Toward a Personalized Psychological Counseling Service in Assisted Reproductive Technology Centers: A Qualitative Analysis of Couples’ Needs. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2022. Vol. 13, article ID 73. 11 p. DOI:10.3390/jpm13010073
29. Wang L., Tang Y., Wang Y. Predictors and incidence of depression and anxiety in women undergoing infertility treatment: A cross-sectional study. PloS one, 2023. Vol. 18, article ID e0284414. 12 p. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0284414
30. Wasser S.K., Barash D.P. Reproductive suppression among female mammals: Implications for biomedicine and sexual selection theory. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 1983. Vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 513—538. DOI:10.1086/413545
31. Hazlina N.H.N., Norhayati M.N., Bahari I.S., Arif N.A.N.M. Worldwide prevalence, risk factors and psychological impact of infertility among women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 2022. Vol. 12, article ID e057132. 7 p. DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057132