Mental Health and Life Satisfaction among Women Suffering from Infertility: A Comparative study

Abstract

The present study is intended to see the relationship between infertility and mental health. Infertility is 
a global public health problem. The WHO estimates that 8–12% of couples around the world experience difficulty in 
conceiving a child. The infertility rates vary between countries and regions. in developing world it is more 
legitimate option for women and childlessness is seen as voluntary. In India motherhood is central to women’s 
power and well-being. Consequences of infertility in these countries range from economic hardship, to social 
isolation, violence and denial of proper death rites. Many families depend on children for economic survival, 
especially in old age. Many times psychological state of woman may get disturbed when reproduction seems 
impossible. Methodology: This study is comparative one which includes infertility cases and controls. Mental health 
has compared between women who are infertile and women who have child. Sample size is 165 in which 65 
respondents are cases and 100 respondents are in control group. Results: Mean score of anxiety in women suffering 
from infertility is 41.43 and in normal women, it is 20.21. Women who are suffering from infertility shows greater 
anxiety as compared to control group. On the score of depression the mean of the case group is 16.58 and the 
control group it is 5.88. Women who are suffering from infertility have higher score on depression scale as compare 
to normal female. Conclusion: the study shows that there is significant relationship between infertility and mental 
health. Women who are suffering from infertility shows negative mental health as compare to women who have 
child.