MedWire News: Mood disorders are common among women and men undergoing fertility treatment, research suggests.

"Infertility is a stressful life event," explain lead investigator Dr Helena Volgsten, from Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden, and colleagues. Depression symptoms and grief reactions are common in infertile couples. The authors note the mourning process is considered important for resolving the crisis brought on by infertility.

However, in some women and men these normal grief reactions are sustained, and can turn into major depression, the researchers explain in the journal Human Reproduction.

Dr Volgsten and team assessed mood and anxiety levels of 545 couples attending a fertility clinic in Sweden over 2 years. Participating women and men were asked to answer questions related to mood, anxiety, eating disorders and alcohol abuse.

The researchers also conducted phone interviews with each study participant whose questionnaire responses indicated a possible mood disorder.

Overall, about a quarter of women and a 10th of men had a mood disorder. The researchers report that major depression was the most common disorder found, affecting 11% of women and 5% of men. In addition, 15% of women and 5% of men had anxiety.

This study "suggests that mood disorders, and in particular major depression, are common in infertile men and women undergoing in vitro fertilization," say the researchers.

Noting that these mood disorders were mostly undiagnosed and untreated, the team concludes that "it is an important task for the in vitro fertilization team not only to identify females and males with depression, but also to assure that adequate treatment is initiated."