Personality characteristics, psychoendocrinological stress and outcome of IVF depend upon the etiology of infertility

Personality characteristics, psychoendocrinological stress responses and course and outcome of treatment were investigated in 40 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition to classification by the major causes of infertility (mechanical infertility or male infertility), the subjects were also divided in two subgroups of 17 women with completely 'normal' menstrual cycles and 23 women with subtle disturbances of their menstrual cycle. These disturbances were due to either minimal endometriosis, luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF) syndrome or luteal phase insufficiency. Women with subtle cycle disturbances have been shown to have a lower pregnancy rate in IVF than women with normal cycles. The correlation of the state anxiety level of the patient in the early follicular phase with a negative outcome in IVF is seen to be higher in women with subtle cycle disturbances. Furthermore, prolactin concentrations are always higher in women with subtle cycle disturbances. Our data contribute to the hypothesis that subtle cycle disturbances, i.e. LUF syndrome, luteal phase insufficiency and endometriosis, could be associated with higher psychoendocrinological stress levels.