The Effect of Abbreviated Online Counseling Based on Mindfulness on the Level of Distress of Women With Infertility Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Methods: A Study Protocol

Infertility is a major life event that can induce severe psychological stress in couples, especially women. This protocol-based study aims to assess the effect of an abbreviated online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on the distress and quality of life (QoL) of infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technology fertility treatments.

This study outlines a protocol for a randomized clinical trial involving 70 infertile women in Iran, who will be randomly divided into two groups of control (n=35) and intervention (n=35). To collect data, a sociodemographic/medical-fertility form, the general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), Newton’s fertility problem inventory, the infertility distress scale (IDS), and the QoL questionnaire for infertile women will be used. The online MBI will provided in groups of seven, once per week, for four weeks, each session for two hours. Data analysis will be performed in SPSS software, version 25.

The goal of this protocol-based study is to introduce a clinical trial that assess the effect of online MBI for reducing distress and thereby improving the QoL and mental health of infertile women in Iran. Given the prevalence of infertility and the importance of MBI, the results of the clinical trial can be highly beneficial.