P-479 Are FET and IUI cycles less emotionally difficult for patients than IVF? Evidence from smartphone app based emotional tracking data

AbstractStudy questionIs the emotional experience different in FET and stimulated IUI cycles compared to IVF cycles?Summary answerEmotional tracking data demonstrated cautious optimism and lower harm emotions in IUI, but FET cycles are associated with higher harm emotions than fresh IVF.What is known alreadyIt is sometimes claimed on clinic websites and by advocates for elective freeze all that FET cycles are inherently less stressful. However, little research evaluates the emotional difference between fresh and frozen cycles and the assumed emotional ease of FET may reflect clinician interpretation/bias rather than patient ’s lived experiences. Many undertaking FET will have experienced disappointment in a fresh cycle and with increasing cycles comes increased cost.IUI treatment is perceived as less physically and emotionally intense, but studies have shown increased depression levels after a failed IUI cycle and hi gh drop-out.Study design, size, durationRetrospective single-centre analysis of anonymised emotional tracking data entered by 707 patients using MediEmo app alongside IVF, 104 during stimulated IUI and 65 during medicated FET from May 2017-September 2020.MediEmo includes medication timeline/ notifications, coping tools and emotional tracking. Patients rate 2 questions daily in each emotion domain (challenge, threat, harm, e.g. ‘I am feeling tense’) on a 0-3 scale and indicate coping ability (‘I am unable to cope with the stress I’m experiencing’).Part...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research