The effect of infertility upon quality of life and self-esteem

Abstract

1.1. Aim: In this study we aimed to determine the effect of infertility upon the quality of life and self-esteem and by this means guide nurses in taking care of and giving counseling to the infertile individuals. 1.2. Method: 150 individuals (100 females and 50 males) entered into the study, who came to be treated in the in vitro fertilization or IVF unit in the Medical Faculty Hospital at Bezmialem Foundation University between 26th July, 2016 and 26th January, 2017 and matched the research criteria. We collected the data using Information Form, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES), and FertiQol (Fertility Quality of Life) Scoring. The obtained data was evaluated by applying independent samples t-test, ANOVA (Analyze of Variance) tests and Pearson Correlation using SPSS 22 (Statistical Program for Social Sciences) Packaged Software. The significance level was p<0.05. 1.3. Results: We observed that out of the participants, 50% were between the ages of 26; and 30, 38% were with a graduate or post-graduate education level, 81% are living in a nuclear family, and 65.3% are primarily infertile. It was seen that they expressed their feelings like that a substantial part of the individuals wereemotionally affected by infertility and 62% of them are very much upset by such a situation and unhappy. We discovered that the point average of the scores of RSES of the infertile individuals was 23.31±6.93; in the females 23.05±6.95, and 23.84±4.38 in the males. We computed the point average of FertiQol as 76.63±6.86; in the females 75.45±6.16, and 78.89±4.86 in the males. We found that in comparison of the scores by gender, there was a statistical significance between the point averages of RSES and FertiQol (respectively p=0.049, p=<0.001). We determined that the sense of self-esteem in the infertile females is lower than that in the infertile males. 1.4. Conclusion: We determined that the socio-demographic, obstetric and infertility characteristics of the infertile individuals are effective upon their sense of quality of life and self-esteem. It is necessary and significant that an infertility nurse should take into consideration those characteristics in taking care of and giving counseling to the infertile individuals.