Archive | 2021
Prevalence of Fibromyalgia Syndrome in Infertile Women and Its Effects on Quality of Life and Sleep
Abstract
Infertility is a very common problem which may have social, cultural, and economical consequences. Fibromyalgia also frequently affects women of reproductive age. Both conditions impair quality of life and adversely influence sleep quality, as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between female infertility and fibromyalgia as well as their effects on quality of life, sleep quality, and several reproductive hormones. This study included 52 infertile women and 38 women who attended to the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic for family planning purposes. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia was made as per American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Study participants were asked to complete Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ). The frequency of fibromyalgia was not significantly different between the groups. Infertile women in this study were younger, had significantly lower educational status, and less likely to be employed compared with the control group. Among the SF-36 subscales physical functioning, role physical, vitality, mental health, social functioning, and bodily pain scores were lower in the control group than the infertile group. PSQI total score was not different between the groups. Although infertility is known to be stressful, the burden of caring for small children is also high for mothers which should be taken into consideration while evaluating the effects of infertility, and motherhood on quality of life and sleep quality of women at childbearing age. Received :09.09.2020 Received in revised form :23.10.2020 Accepted :02.11.2020 Available online :05.01.2021