ASSESSMENT OF STRESS IN INFERTILE WOMEN AND THE IMPACT OF STRESS MANAGEMENT COUNSELING

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 60 to 80 million newlinecouples worldwide suffer from infertility1. Infertility is a global health issue, newlineaffecting approximately 8 - 10% of couples worldwide2,3. Fertility problems affect newlineone in seven couples in the UK4. In Sweden, approximately 10% of couples are newlineinfertile5. According to the Global perspective of infertility in the general newlinepopulation, infertility affects 7 8% of all couples; in Europe the prevalence of newlineinfertility has been estimated at around 14%; women of 30 years of age or newlineyounger, the probability of pregnancy has been decreased to about 40% . On a newlineworldwide scale, this means that 50-80 million people suffer from infertility. newlineHowever, the incidence of infertility may vary from region to region. In France, newline18% of couples of childbearing age said that they had difficulties in getting newlineconceived6. newline1.1 Infertility newlineInfertility is an inability of a couple to achieve pregnancy for at least one newlineyear of trying to do so without using any means of birth control7. It is perceived as newlinea problem across virtually all cultures and societies and affects an estimated newline10-15% of couples of reproductive age. Infertility is a problem that affects newlineindividuals and groups in different cultures. Infertility primarily refers to the newlinebiological inability of a man or a woman to contribute to conception. It may also newlinerefer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term8. The newlinepopulation in developed, developing and underdeveloped countries hold different newlineattitudes regarding infertility. In underdeveloped and developing countries,infertility may be linked to an act of God, punishment for sins of the past, prolonged use of contraceptives, distinct dietary habits, and the result of witchcraft which is causing childlessness whereas people in developed countries viewed infertility as caused by biological and other related factors9,10,11. Individuals who are thought to be infertile are generally relegated to an inferior status, and stigmatized with many labels. A