Demyttenaere K, Nijs P, Evers-Kiebooms G, Koninckx P R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1992 Nov;17(6):655-65. doi: 10.1016/0306-4530(92)90024-2.
The effect of a coping-ineffectiveness of coping construct and of psychoendocrine stress responses upon the outcome of in vitro fertilization treatment was investigated in 40 women. Women with a high Zung depression score, high active coping, high avoidance, and a high expression of emotion have lower pregnancy rates. The mechanisms for this personality effect are not clear, although the desensitization-stimulation process (FSH, E2 concentrations) seems to be involved. The psychoendocrinological responses to the stress of oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer are important: Women with high anticipatory state anxiety levels and high anticipatory cortisol concentrations have lower pregnancy rates. The influence of prolactin stress concentrations is unclear: Women with high prolactin concentrations seem to have more oocytes but lower fertilization rates.
