Grant: Project Grant

Mental illness, especially perinatal depression affects about 10% of women during and around pregnancy. However, while about 15% of reproductive-aged women suffer from infertility, and many turn to infertility treatment to achieve pregnancy, we do not know as much about the mental health needs of these women. In this study, we will describe the relationship between infertility, infertility treatment, and mental illness in a Canadian population. We will measure how often infertile women who received infertility treatment experienced mental illness. We will compare the development of mental illnesses among women who became pregnant with infertility treatment with women who became pregnant without infertility treatment, and also to women who attempted pregnancy with infertility treatment but were not successful. In addition to looking at newly arising mental illness, we will also measure which women had previously existing mental illnesses before they received infertility treatment. We will use information gathered from health-related databases for women in Ontario from 2006 until 2017. To determine which women were infertile, we will look in records for either an infertility-related diagnosis or use of infertility treatment. To measure mental illness, we will look in records for visits to a physician, hospital, or emergency department for mental illness, self-harm, or a record of suicide. Infertility and its treatment are both rising in Canada, and it is unclear how these trends are affecting women's mental health. Results from our study can help guide and customize fertility treatment and can also help in planning mental health support for women who have fertility problems.