Weili Wu,* Na Zhou,* Ying He

Gynecology Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Na Zhou, Gynecology Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, Email 1178800000@zju.edu.cn

Background: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a distressing complication of in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer (IVF-ET) that can amplify emotional and psychological burden. Fertility-related stress is influenced by individual psychological resources and the quality of marital communication. However, limited research has examined these associations in patients hospitalized with OHSS.
Objective: To examine the relationship between fertility stress, conjugal communication patterns, and psychological capital in hospitalized patients with OHSS following IVF-ET.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 185 women admitted to the fertility ward of a tertiary hospital in China between June 2022 and December 2023. Participants completed the Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), and the Chinese version of the Christensen Marital Communication Model Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 26.0. Outcomes included the level of fertility stress and its associations with conjugal communication, psychological capital, and relevant demographic and clinical predictors.
Results: Participants reported elevated fertility stress (mean ± SD: 155.08 ± 30.58), suboptimal conjugal communication (60.15 ± 24.06), and moderate psychological capital (120.05 ± 18.92). Fertility stress was positively correlated with total avoidance communication (r = 0.373, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with psychological capital (r = – 0.322, p < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that embryo transfer cycles (β = 9.284, p = 0.007), second pregnancy attempts (β = 11.398, p = 0.049), total avoidance communication (β = 2.080, p < 0.001), and psychological capital (β = – 0.337, p = 0.002) were significant predictors of fertility stress.
Conclusion: Maladaptive conjugal communication and diminished psychological capital are significantly associated with heightened fertility stress in OHSS patients undergoing IVF-ET. Integrating psychosocial support to enhance marital communication and psychological resilience may help alleviate stress and improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, fertility stress, psychological capital, marital communication, IVF-ET, psychosocial care, nursing care