Prevalence and determinants of depression in females with primary infertility.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of depression in females with primary infertility at a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi and identify the factors associated with the condition. Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Setting: Infertility Clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gyanecology, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi. Period: February to August 2016. Material & Methods: Females between the ages of 18 and 40 years with primary infertility were included in the study. The presence and severity of depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Socio-demographic details and clinical information was collected on a pre-designed proforma. Results: A total of 102 females were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 31 years with a STD of ± 4.3 years. 78.4% (n=80) patients were suffering from depression on the basis of HAM-D scores. 18 (17.6%) had mild depression, 34 (33.3%) had moderate depression, 20 (19.6%) had severe depression and 8 (7.8%) patients had very severe depression. An analysis of the socio-demographic factors showed that a majority of the females were educated, housewives and living in extended families. The frequency of depression was significantly associated with a low monthly household income (p=0.046). Conclusion: A high proportion of females with primary infertility suffer from depression. Screening for psychiatric illnesses should be part of the standard evaluation of these patients. Early detection and timely psychological intervention can lead to a significant reduction in long-term morbidity.