The Comparison of Alexithymia, Worry, and Perceived Stress in Fertile and Infertile Women of Tabriz

The purpose of this research was to compare alexithymia, worry, and perceived stress in fertile and infertile women in Tabriz.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 50 infertile women were selected by means of the convenience sampling technique from among women who were diagnosed with infertility and were receiving therapies by gynecologists, referring to Al-Zahra and milad fertility treatment centers during March-September 2017 and. The control group included patients’ partners. The data were collected by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale.

The results showed a significant difference between fertile and infertile women in the extent of alexithymia, worry, and perceived stress being lower in infertile women (P<0.05).

In general, the results of present research revealed that infertility can affect personal, social, and marital relationships and result in a mental imbalance in the fetus, increased depression, and even divorce among the couples.