In general, infertility is defined as a state not being able to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex. About 200 thousands of women and men in Korea are diagnosed as infertile state every year.
The purpose of this study is to review strategies of infertility counselling program(ICP) of UK, Germany, Australia and Japan and identify demand for ICP and policy directions for a development of ICP in korea.
According to this study, 61% of infertile women who experienced in IVF treatment by the ‘National Supporting Program for Infertile Couples’ in 2014 suffered from a serious psychological distress, high anxiety and depression. These mental problems, which often cause a failure of infertility treatment, that is pregnancy, were caused by the burden of medical cost, isolation from husband family members and society regardless of husband family’s relationship and income status.
Nevertheless, most of the doctors of ART surgery only focus on certain aspects of medical treatment of infertility. They are inclined to overlook assessment and intervention of mental and psychological problems of infertile couples. Because they are busy working schedules to treat and may not know diagnosis, prevention and treatment of factors influencing the depression, anxiety, and how to approach to infertile client-centered care in Korea.
On the other hand, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia have been systematically operating ICPP by licensed infertility counsellor in fertility clinic and community and infertility self-help groups by Government linked with Infertility Counseling Association 15 years ago. Interventions to alleviate these burdens include provision of comprehensive educational material, screening to identify highly distressed infertile couples by infertility counsellors involved with fertility clinic staffs to integrated approach.
Therefore, the licensed infertility counseling staff in IVF Clinic should be participated in order to play a central role for coping with emotional stress and treatment for psychological problems. Korea hasn’t yet developed a ICP and therefore medical staffs are needed to be assessed in the primary care of mental problems.
It is firstly suggested to develop to the educational program for medical staffs. Futhermore, we need to develop the model of the conceptualized infertile client-centered care and ICP along with self-help groups in Korean situation to improve the success of pregnancy of infertile couples.