The Psychological Considerations and Social Effect of In-Vitro Fertlization - Research Paper Example

Running Head: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS & SOCIAL EFFECT OF IVF The Psychological Considerations and Social Effect of In-Vitro Fertlization BY YOU YOUR SCHOOL INFO HERE DATE HERE The Psychological Considerations and Social Effect of In-Vitro Fertilization Introduction As a result of infertility stemming from either the male or female, women who are adamant about having a child often seek the assistance of medical practitioners trained in the process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). In-vitro fertilization involves a systematic process in which an egg (provided by the patient or through external donorship) is initially fertilized outside of the uterus in a controlled laboratory environment. IVF results, statistically, in success rates between 26 and 35 percent, making this a rather unreliable procedure for all infertile demographics. Infertility for both men and women maintains a wide variety of psychological implications that differ in relation to gender. For men, infertility creates psychological problems associated with social stigmas and norms related to acceptable masculinity traits. For instance, male infertility creates inherent insecurity and self-esteem erosion that leads to stress, secrecy and self-protectionism in an effort to insulate the male from potential, negative social judgments that the infertile man is unable to perform sexually (Peronace, Boivin & Schmidt, 2007). For women, infertility creates psychological repercussions which include stress, anger, depression and even denial (McQuillian, Greil, White & Jacob, 2003; Matthews & Matthews, 1986). This essay attempts to detail the psychological considerations of in-vitro fertilization on men and women; the potential emotional and psychosomatic implications of undergoing this emotionally-charged medical process. The project further examines a variety of potential social effects that are created by the IVF procedures. Patterns of psychological maladjustment created by being infertile appear to be compounded by the anxiety related to hopefulness for success in the procedure and the anxieties of probable IVF failures. Psychological Implications of IVF Infertile women who pursue and engage in assisted reproductive technology, IVF, experience significant psychological distress as a result of waiting for results and the high level of anticipation that the procedure will be successful. Once the egg has been fertilized outside of the body, the resulting zygote is cultured for a period ranging between two to six days before being transplanted into the uterus. Once inserted, patient must wait, while also being monitored periodically, for a period of approximately three weeks (Boston IVF, 2014). Hence, IVF is an extensive and arduous process of waiting and attempting to draw on optimism as a psychological form of self-protectionism. As a result of this strenuous period of waiting and maintaining hopefulness, the most common psychological response is anxiety (Eugster & Vingerhoets, 1999). Anxiety is actually a mood disorder which creates an negative emotional state that is accompanies by nervousness and behavioral changes, such as pacing the floor, as a result of feeling worry, fear and an inability to concentrate (Smith, 2008). This is not necessarily surprising as the process of in-vitro fertilization maintains absolutely no guarantees for success and a single procedure (known as a cycle) typically costs between $10,000 and $15,000, with a national average of $12,400 (ASRM, 2014). Again, it is not startling that anxiety is an outcome of the process as it relates to cost worries and indebtedness as Fay (2014, p.2) indicates that worry about financial concerns can “infect all aspects of one’s daily life with anxiety”. In the situation where IVF procedures were not successful, men and women alike who are involved in the process experience anger and depression (Eugster & Vingerhoets, 1999 Hynes, Callan, Terry & Gallois, 1992). This is why in Austria, as one example, it is mandated by Austrian law that all physicians engaged in IVF provide counseling services to every woman who is undergoes in-vitro fertilization (Domar & Prince, 2011). Hence, it should be recognized that there is significant and profound likelihood that failed IVF procedures will lead to psychological maladjustment which impacts emotional health. Depression as an outcome of failed IVF processes maintains very substantial implications for the patient. Depression is a severe type of mood disorder in which an individual can experience such feelings as worthlessness, guilt, emotional emptiness, and may even contemplate committing suicide. These feelings are common when loss of a loved one occurs in a person’s life (comparable to miscarriages in child gestation) and in the event of IVF failures, depression can be a product of post-traumatic stress. Women, and men, who maintain high levels of optimism and anticipation about the potential success opportunity of the IVF procedure have these emotions devastated instantly when they are given the news that the transfer of the zygote met with unsuccessful results and the embryo has perished. This is problematic and a concern for society and medical practitioners as not all individuals can afford a second attempt (at an average national cost of over $12,000), therefore they have no further options for experiencing some level of natural childbirth. Social Effects of IVF As it is recognized that IVF maintains a very low success rate, the social effects of failed IVF procedures are of significant concern to society. Prolonged episodes of depression can lead to acute psychiatric syndromes including anhedonia, a syndrome in which the depressed individual is no longer able to experience any form of happiness and contentment from activities that the person once found pleasurable such as sexual activity and social engagement (Blanchard, Gangestad, Brown & Horan, 2000). Social and sexual anhedonia maintain significant implications for the quality of a marriage between couples who experienced failed IVF procedures. From a marital perspective, it might be necessary for the depressed individual experiencing sexual and social anhedonia to pursue treatment through the pharmaceutical known as bupropion, a radical antidepressant known to stimulate sexual drive and intensify the sexual experience. It is recognized that sexual problems are the leading causes of divorce (Kimball & Kimball, 1995). Social anhedonia as a result of depression also maintain implications within the social network of men and women who experienced failed IVF procedures. This social disorder is akin to anti-social behaviors, showing indifference toward others in society or within a previous social circle and is known to be a predictor of emergence of schizophrenia-spectrum, in which the individual experiences lack of motivation, delusion, and paranoia. The problem when an individual develops traits related to social anhedonia is that once this disorder emerges, it usually remains stable throughout one’s lifetime and is independent of potential treatments. Hence, social functioning becomes nearly impossible and causes long-term problems with work relationships and establishing any quality social relationships with others in society. It is not surprising that individuals who underwent a faulty in-vitro fertilization procedure develop anhedonic and depressive responses. Hynes, et al. (1992) also found that when patients who experienced failed IVF attempted to cope using social support networks, their emotions were associated with much lower levels of personal well-being. In opposite accord, when the women in the study utilized a strategy for coping known as problem-focused coping, their well-being increased. Hence, this provides evidence that there are complex and moderately substantial social disorders that occur as a result of experiencing traumatic IVF procedure failures. Though this represents some of the most dramatic social effects that can be created by influence of IVF, there is clearly a connection between the development of anti-social behaviors when IVF procedures have failed. There is no evidence, however, that in-vitro fertilization, when successful, maintains similar negative social consequences. However, the extent to which men who are infertile attempt social secrecy as a means of protecting themselves from negative social judgments does indicate that IVF could potentially complicate social adjustment for men especially if the procedure is a complete failure. Conclusion This essay defined the potential and known psychological problems that occur in relation to being infertile, the IVF process and when experiencing failures of the procedures. These considerations included anxiety, depression and anger. Clearly, the trauma of failed IVF procedures and the stress associated with waiting for results create very dramatic and measurable changes to emotional adjustment and behavioral adjustment. IVF, therefore, whether failed or successful, is correlated with psychological considerations that could have substantial impact on quality of life, esteem and the marital relationship. The social effects of IVF as a result of anhedonic responses are also a very important consideration for society and the medical domain. Prolonged episodes of depressive symptoms lead to considerable anti-social behaviors and lack of desire to maintain contact with social networks, thereby reducing the quality of communalism that is usually an important need in people’s lives. Furthermore, anhedonic traits leading to loss of sexual pleasure could potentially erode the stability and cohesion of the marriage in a household where IVF was a failure. It should be recognized, consequently, that IVF maintains the potential to radically reduce social functioning and desire to maintain social support activities. In-vitro fertilization and its complexities create substantially-negative psychological and social outcomes. References Boston IVF. (2014). How Long does the In-Vitro Fertilization Process take? Retrieved February 10, 2014 from http://www.fertilityproregistry.com/qa/how-long-does-in-vitro- fertilization-process-take Eugster, A. & Vingerhoets, A. (1999). Psychological Aspects of In-Vitro Fertilization: A Review, Social Science & Medicine, 48(5), pp.575-589. Peronace, L.A., Boivin, J. & Schmidt, L. (2007). Patterns of Suffering and Social Interactions in Infertile Men: 12 Months after Unsuccessful Treatment, Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 28, pp.105-114. McQuillian, J., Greil, A., White, L. & Jacob, M.C. (2003). Frustrated Fertility: Infertility and Psychological Distress among Women, Journal of Marriage and Family, 65(4), pp.1007-1017. Matthews, A. & Matthews, R. (1986). Beyond the Mechanics of Infertility: Perspectives on the Social Psychology of Infertility and Involuntary Childlessness, Family Relations, 35(4), pp.479-486. Smith, M. (2008). Anxiety Attacks and Disorders: Guide to the Signs, Symptoms and Treatment Options. Retrieved February 9, 2014 from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_types_symptoms_treatment.htm ASRM. (2014). Frequently Asked Questions about Infertility, American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Retrieved February 10, 2014 from http://www.asrm.org/awards/index.aspx?id=3012 Domar, A.D. & Prince, L.B. (2011). What the Evidence Shows: Impact of Psychological Interventions on IVF Outcome, Sexuality, Reproduction & Menopause Journal. Retrieved February 10, 2014 from http://stg.srm- ejournal.com/pdf%2F1011%2FSRM1011_Psych.pdf Hynes, G.J., Callan, V.J., Terry, D.J. and Gallois, C. (1992). The Psychological Well-Being of Infertile Women after a Failed IVF Attempt: The Effects of Coping, British Journal of Medical Psychology, 65(3), pp.269-278. Retrieved February 8, 2014 from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1992.tb01707.x/pdf Blanchard, J., Gangestad, S., Brown, S. & Horan, W. (2000). Hedonic Capacity and Schizotypy Revisited: A Taxometric Analysis of Social Anhedonia, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109, pp.87-95. Kimball, S.W. & Kimball, E.L. (1995). The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball: Twelfth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Bookcraft Publishing. Read More