Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2011, 2(3):264-271

The quality of the life of pregnant women after in-vitro fertilization versus spontaneous conception

Bohdana Dušová^*, Markéta Tulisová

Birthing room of Maternal hospital, University hospital Ostrava

Objective: The aim of the work was to find out and consequently compare the quality of life of women who got pregnant naturally with those who underwent artificial insemination. Quality of life was evaluated twice during the pregnancy, between the 20th and 28th week and just before actual childbirth.

Methods: A standardized questionnaire WHOQOL - BREF was used for empirical data collection. The sample was made up of 160 pregnant women divided into two groups: 80 women who had got pregnant naturally and 80 women who underwent artificial insemination. The research was realized at the Faculty hospital Ostrava, Gyncentre Ostrava and Gyncentre Opava.

Results: Both groups confirmed quality of life as good during the first and the second evaluation and satisfaction with one's health was on average good as well. The biggest difference was related to physical health. Between the 20th and 28th week of pregnancy women who got pregnant naturally determined their physical health as better than before actual childbirth (p < 0,001). However, not so for women who were artificially inseminated, where differences were not so significant. In the other areas of the study no significant differences were found between either groups.

Conclusion: Quality of life does not directly depend on the means of getting pregnant but is very much individual, as well as the occurrence of any unpleasant feelings during the pregnancy.

Keywords: pregnancy, getting pregnant spontaneously, artificial insemination, quality of life

Published: September 30, 2011  Show citation