The Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Body Image in Infertile Women

Studies show that infertility can result in body image changes, which can majorly affect personality.
The current study aimed to determine the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on body image in infertile women.
This clinical trial was performed on 24 infertile women, admitted to the Infertility Research and Treatment Center of Ahvaz, Iran in 2016-2017. In the first stage, convenience sampling was applied, and the participants were allocated to 2 groups (12 patients per group), using a table of random numbers. The experimental group participated in 10 sessions of CBT weekly, based on the 8-step program by Cash. body-self relations questionnaire and Beck Self-Concept inventory were completed in each group before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention.
After the intervention, the mean scores of body image were 156.9 ± 3.4 and 148.7 ± 4.8 in the experimental and control groups, respectively; the difference was significant (P = 0.025), and the effects persisted until the follow-up.
CBT based on the 8-step program by Cash can improve the body image of infertile women through challenging and improving their irrational beliefs about their bodies.