The effect of women's occupational psychologic stress on outcome of fertility treatments.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the possible association between women's occupational stress and outcome of fertility treatments. A prospective cohort study was performed, including a consecutive group of 75 working women with a female fertility problem attending fertility clinics between the years 1999 and 2000. A structured questionnaire measuring burnout, job strain, and job satisfaction was used. Workload was assessed by number of working hours and shift work. Women who perceived their job as more demanding were less likely to conceive (relative risk [RR], 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.42-0.96). Actual workload, measured by full-time versus part-time job, was found among women who conceived to be significantly associated with less likelihood to successfully complete a pregnancy (RR, 0.3; 95% CI = 0.11-0.96). An inverse association was found between perceived higher workload and conceiving. The likelihood to deliver after fertility treatment was associated with less working hours.