Somatic symptoms, sleep disturbance and psychological distress among women undergoing oocyte pick-up and in vitro fertilisation-embryo transfer

Aims and objectives This study investigated the relationship between somatic symptoms, sleep disturbance and psychological distress in women who underwent oocyte pick‐up and in vitro fertilisation–embryo transfer. Background According to worldwide research, women receiving assisted reproductive technologies may suffer from somatic and psychological symptoms and even experience sleep disturbance. Apparently, the guilt of infecundity forces Asian women to conceal this scenario and delay the time at which they accept medical assistance and mental support. Design A longitudinal study. Methods The subjects in this study were infertile female patients who received oocyte pick‐up and in vitro fertilisation–embryo transfer therapies in a hospital in northern Taiwan. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire, including somatic symptoms, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a five‐item brief symptom rating scale. Data were analysed using the McNemar's test, Wilcoxon Sign Rank and fully entered multiple regression with spss version 20.0 software. Results The mean age of 100 participants was 34·54 (SD = 3·94) years old. They experienced abdominal distention, breast engorgement, nausea, faintness, diarrhoea, sleep disturbance and psychological distress when they received in vitro fertilisation–embryo transfer; these results were apparently higher than those receiving oocyte pick‐up. In addition, sleep disturbance was the most significant factor involved in psychological distress during oocyte pick‐up and in vitro fertilisation–embryo transfer therapies. The most serious indicator of the women's psychological distress during oocyte pick‐up and in vitro fertilisation–embryo transfer treatment is anxiety. Conclusions Sleep disturbance was the most significant factor involved in the psychological distress of women having problems with conception. Relevance to clinical practice Assisted reproductive technologies nurses can assess women's psychological distress by caring for their sleep disturbance without directly exploring their mood state. Moreover, these medical personnel should understand infertile female patients’ psychological distress is mainly associated with their sleep disturbance. Developing various strategies to improve both sleep quality and psychological distress for infertile female patients should be recognised in future studies.