• Human Ecology Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.465-475
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine actor and partner effects among infertile couples in determining whether self-esteem affects the degree of infertility-related stress via perceived spousal support. The sample comprised 219 couples who experienced infertility, each of whom completed an online survey. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, t-test, correlation analysis and APIM (Actor-Partner Interdependence Model) were performed using SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 7.3 program. The main results were as follows. First, the actor effect of spousal support on self-esteem was significant in both husbands and wives. Second, the actor effects of spousal support on infertility-related stress and self-esteem on infertility stress were significant only in husbands. Third, in the association between husbands' and wives' spousal support and infertility-related stress, three mediating pathways via husband's self-esteem were found to be significant. Based on these results, the necessity for a couple-level analysis in infertility research, psycho-emotional interventions for infertile couples, and implications for follow-up studies were discussed.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.85-100
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• 2023

Objectives: To evaluate stress patterns and coping abilities in women with infertility by conducting in-depth interviews. Methods: Ten women with infertility who visited the Korean Medicine Hospital and provided consent after being informed of the purpose and method of the study were selected after meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria. They were requested to complete a preliminary questionnaire developed by the researchers, the Infertility Stress Scale, and the Korean version of the Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI). Subsequently, each participant was interviewed individually. Results: The preliminary questionnaire was used to evaluate sensitivity to each type of infertility-related stress and ability to express and resolve it. Among all infertility stress types, the largest proportion, accounting for an average of 47.5±26.95%, was that felt by the patient herself. Considering stress awareness intensity, the stress felt by the patient was the highest, with an average score of 4.30±0.64. Relative stress sensitivity due to infertility was the highest, with an average score of 3.90±0.94. Compared with general work stress, the average ability to relieve stress related to problems with spouses was the highest, with a score of 2.50±1.20. The average Infertility Stress Scale score was 2.88±1.35 and FPI score was 2.87±2.52. Conclusions: The highest stress scores were observed for the following items: meaning of children, need for parenthood, and stress due to the diagnosis of infertility. The lowest stress scores were allocated to the item concerning relationships with friends and co-workers. Based on the in-depth interviews conducted after the survey, stress in women with infertility may be classified as emotional, physical, and economic. Thus, the requirement for providing appropriate psychological and emotional support depending on the stress type in addition to general medical treatment for infertility treatment was confirmed.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.36-50
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was determine the relationship between social support and the infertility stress of infertile women. The subjects for this were 64 infertile women living in S city, Kyung Book Province. The data was collected during $4^{th}$ July and $14^{th}$ August, 1988 using the social support scale developed by Park(1985) and the infertility stress scale developed by Kim et. al.(1995) The data analysis was done by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS PC program. The results were as follows. 1. The mean of social support of the infertile women was 3.80. 2. The negative correlation was revealed between social support and the infertility stress(r=-.56, p=.001). 3. Research has revealed that the support need of social support was a predictor of the infertility stress of the infertile women, explaining 30.9% of total variance. 4. the general characteristic variable significantly related to the level of the infertility stress of the infertile women was marriage satisfaction(t=-3.28, p=.004). The results of this study suggest that social support is related to the infertility stress of the infertile women. Therefore, The nurse is recommended to apply supportive intervention in caring for infertile women.

• Journal of Advanced Technology Convergence
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.57-70
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• 2024

This study is a correlational research to identify the factors influencing the infertility-related quality of life of infertile women. The participants included 131 infertile women who visited the department of obstetrics and gynecology of a general hospital in C city for infertility treatment. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire between May 11 and July 31, 2020. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Schéffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and simultaneous multiple regression using SPSS 18.0 program. The degree of infertility-related quality of life was 3.73±0.65. Infertility-related quality of life had a significant correlation with marital intimacy (r=.37, p<.001), spousal support (r=.38, p<.001), social support (r=.43, p<.001), infertility stress (r=-.74, p<.001) and depression(r=-.54, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that infertility stress (β=-.58, p<.001), depression (β=-.28, p<.001), and social support (β=.16, p=.011) had significant effects on the infertility-related quality of life in infertile women, These variables explained 64.0% of the infertility-related quality of life in infertile women. The main variables affecting infertility-related quality of life were found to be infertility stress, depression, and social support. Therefore, to improve the infertility-related quality of life of infertile women, hospitals should develop an intervention program that can reduce fertility stress and depression and improve social support. Studies should also be conducted to confirm these effects. Depression

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.37-42
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• 2000

Objective: To determine whether particular semen characteristics in various clinical diagnoses of infertility are associated with high oxidative stress and whether any group of infertile men is more likely to have high seminal oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in sperm physiological functions, but elevated levels of ROS or oxidative stress are related to male infertility. Design: Measurement of sperm concentration, motility, morphology, seminal ROS, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients seeking infertility treatment and controls. Setting: Male infertility clinic of a tertiary care center. Patient(s): One hundred sixty-seven infertile patients and 19 controls. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen characteristics, seminal ROS, and TAC in samples from patients with various clinical diagnoses and controls. Result(s): Fifteen patients (9.0%) were Endtz positive and 152(91.0%) Endtz negative. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were significantly reduced in all groups compared with the controls (P = .02), except in varicocele associated With infection group. Mean (${\pm}$SD) ROS levels in patient groups ranged from 2.2 ${\pm}$ 0.13 to 3.2 ${\pm}$ 0.35, signilicantly higher than controls (1.3 ${\pm}$ 0.3; P<.005). Patient groups had a significantly lower mean (${\pm}$SD) TAC from 1014.75 ${\pm}$ 79.22 to 1173.05 ${\pm}$ 58.07 than controls (1653 ${\pm}$ 115.28, P<.001), except ill the vaseclony reversal group (1532.02 ${\pm}$ 74.24). Sperm concentration was negatively correlated with ROS both overall and within all groups (P${\leq}$.007), with the exception of idiopathic infertility. Conclusion(s): Irrespective of the clinical diagnosis and semen characteristics, the presence of seminal oxidative stress in infertile men suggests its role in the pathophysiology of infertility. Medical or surgical treatments for infertility in these men should include strategies to reduce oxidative stress.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.137-144
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to examine consumers' perceptions of domestic infertility support policies based on infertility-related keywords and the trends of their changes. To this end, Momsholic, a mom cafe which has the most active infertility-related bulletin boards on Naver, was selected as the analysis target, and 'infertility' was selected as a keyword for data search. The data was collected for three months. In addition, network analysis and visualization were performed using R for data collection and analysis, and cross-validation was attempted using the NetDraw function of 'textom 1.0' and the UCINET6 program. As a result of the analysis, the main keywords were cost, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, freezing, harvest, ovulation, and how much. Next, looking at the central value of the degree of connection, it was found that the degree of connection between the words cost, cost, how much, problem, public health center, and artificial insemination was high. According to the results of this study, women who visit mom cafes due to infertility in Korea are more interested in the cost. It is believed to be closely related to infertility treatment as well as in vitro fertilization and egg freezing. Therefore, by examining keywords related toinfertility, it has academic significance in that it is possible to identify major factors that end users are interested in. Furthermore, it is possible to redefine the guidelines for domestic infertility support policies by presenting infertility support policies that reflect the factors of interest of end consumers.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.165-182
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• 2005

Purpose : To investigate the stress degree of infertile women and its correlations with Qi-stasis. Methods : 162 women, enrolled for treatment at oriental hospital, completed Infertility Stress Scale, Stress Response Inventory and Qi-stasis questionnaire. Their demographic features and infertility-related factors were recorded. 137 infertile women and 25 normal subjects were analyzed. Results : 1. 43 infertile women(33.86%) among the sample group were diagnosed as Qi-stasis. 2. There were close score correlations among Infertility Stress Scale, Stress Response Inventory, and Qi-stasis(p=.000). 3. Experience of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), possibility of spontaneous pregnancy, coitus frequency, whether the spouse is the eldest son or not had the influences on Infertility Stress. Abortion experience had influences on stress response and Qi-stasis. 4. It was revealed that Infertile women(n=137) had significantly higher scores of 'Infertility Stress' and subscales such as 'sexual satisfaction', 'marital satisfaction', 'familial adjustment', 'social adjustment' as well than control group(n=25). Conclusion : The results provide that the stress degree of infertile women had significant correlations with Qi-stasis and show the possibilities of oriental medicine treatment for stresses of infertile women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2020

Purpose: Infertile women experience various physical, psychological, and relational problems that affect their infertility-related quality of life (QoL). This study investigated infertile women's infertility-related QoL with the goal of identifying how it is influenced by fatigue, depression, and marital intimacy. Methods: A sample of 140 infertile women was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from February to April 2018 using self-report structured questionnaires at three infertility clinics located in Jeonju, Korea. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis in SPSS for Windows version 25.0. The subjects agreed to complete a face-to-face interview, including administration of the Fatigue Severity Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Marital Intimacy Scale, and the Fertility Quality of Life tool. Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.6±4.3 years. Infertility-related QoL was negatively correlated with fatigue (r=-.42, p<.001) and depression (r=-.56, p<.001), and positively correlated with marital intimacy (r=.30, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that depression (β=-0.44, p<.001), fatigue (β=-0.27, p<.001), and husband's attitude (β=-0.19, p=.007) had significant effects on the QoL of infertile women, accounting for 40.5% of the variance in infertility-related QoL. Conclusion: The study provides insights into how infertile women's infertility-related QoL was influenced by depression, fatigue, and their husbands' attitudes regarding infertility treatment. To improve infertile women's infertility-related QoL, healthcare providers should consider developing strategies to decrease depression and fatigue in infertile women and to address their husbands' attitudes.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.63-84
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aims to understand the stress patterns and coping behaviors of women with infertility and to improve existing infertility stress assessment tools to develop a tool suited for Korean society. Methods: The study involved 10 women diagnosed with primary or secondary infertility. Data were collected through surveys and in-depth interviews. Participants were recruited voluntarily, and snowball sampling was used for additional recruitment. Data collection occurred from September 2023 to April 2024. Data analysis included Spearman's rank correlation, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Interview results were analyzed using text mining and network analysis with Python 3.12. Results: There was a significant correlation between IVF/ICSI treatment and resilience scores, with non-IVF/ICSI groups showing higher resilience scores. Existing infertility stress assessment tools were generally useful but had limitations, such as discomfort with religious expressions and fixed gender roles, as well as issues with the number of items and response scales. Text mining of interview responses revealed key stress-related keywords including worry, depression, burden, pregnancy outcome, and health. Main stressors included uncertainty about pregnancy outcomes, physical discomfort during treatments, economic burdens, and emotional reactions from family and social relationships. Conclusions: This study identified the stress patterns of women with infertility through interviews. It showed the need for a new assessment tool to evaluate and support the complex stressors experienced by these women. Developing a comprehensive tool is essential for better understanding and managing the various stress factors faced by infertile women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2003

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify dietary factors related to infertility in Korean women through a case-control study. Methods: The case group was composed of 236 women who had been diagnosed as infertility in hospital. The control group of 181 healthy women with children were recruited from local immunization centers. Socio-economic status, medical history, dietary intakes using food frequency questionnaire and stress were surveyed by interview. Anthropometric measurements were made and the causes of infertility were identified through medical records. Fasting blood samples were taken from subgroup of the subjects. Results: The mean age of infertile and control groups was 31.1 and 32.4 years, respectively and the difference was statistically significant. The mean Body Mass Index of infertile women was not significantly different from control women, however, Waist/ Hip Ratio and Triceps Skinfolds Thickness were significantly lower in infertile women than in control women. The dietary intake status was generally satisfactory in both groups. The intakes of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, retinol, vitamin B2 and niacin were lower in infertile women than in control women. The infertile women also showed lower intakes of animal foods. No differences were found between two groups in serum concentrations of albumin, hemoglobin, Fe, TIBC, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C3, IgA, IL-2, however, infertile women showed higher levels of Zn and IgG. The stress score was higher in infertile women. Conclusions: From the results of this study, dietary factors and nutritional status do not seem to be directly related to infertility. However, the intertile women have lower nutrient intake and lower body fat content than control women. Further researches are needed according to the causes of infertility for long term to establish the relationship between dietary factors and infertility.