BACKGROUND

      Centuries of misconception and myths regarding fertility have increased the problem. Motherhood is of great social significance and infertility is perceived as a threat to mens procreavity and the continuity of lineage. Infertility can result in a strained relationship in the marital home. Women could be victims of violence, abuse and social exclusion. Hence the purpose of the study is to assess the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in infertile women and to correlate them with physical variables and to know their clinical relevance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The sample was chosen from infertile women attending obstetrics and gynaecology op of a medical college hospital. Forty women meeting the WHO criteria for infertility who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were chosen for the study. They were analysed using the Mini international neuropsychiatric interview(MINI), Socioeconomic status scale, Hospital anxiety Depression scale(HADS),Rosenberg Self esteem scale(RSE),Eysenck Personality inventory(EPI). The results of the study were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative data. Statistical techniques include both analysis such as measures of central tendencies and distribution and inferential methods including parametric and nonparametric methods.

RESULTS

Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in infertile women was 27.5%. Major depressive disorder is the commonest psychiatric illness irrespective of duration of infertility. Sociodemographic variables do not influence psychiatric morbidity. Longer duration of infertility reduces selfesteem but not quality of marital life. As the duration of infertility increases there is significant risk of psychiatric morbidity. Family history of psychiatric illness does not influence psychiatric morbidity. The personality profile of infertile women with a family history of psychiatric illness scored significantly higher on the ambivert than other dimension.

CONCLUSION

Women with infertility are more prone for psychiatric disorders. Depression and anxiety disorders are common psychiatric illness in infertile women. Duration of infertility do not influence the quality of marital life.Longer the duration of infertility lower the self esteem. The reactions the infertile women are faced with ,play an important role in the development of certain psychiatric symptoms.