Self-concept and self-discrepancy among the women receiving and donating oocyte

Background & Aim: One of the assisted reproductive technologies is the use of donated oocyte. Although, the data about medical aspects of this process is available, knowledge of the psychological aspect related to this therapy is limited. Each individual's psychological aspects can be assessed by the self-concept and the self-discrepancy. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the self-concept and self-discrepancy among women receiving and donating oocyte. Methods & Materials: In this descriptive-analytical investigation, carried out in 2015, given the limited research population, 53 women referred to Royan infertility institute, were investigated in each of the donor and recipient groups using the available sampling method. The data were collected by three questionnaires including demographic questions, Rogers’s self-concept scale and self discrepancy scale (ideal-self discrepancy and ought-self discrepancy). The data were analyzed through the descriptive statistics, Chi-square and t-test using SPSS v.16. Results: Results showed that the self-concept and self-discrepancy scores were poor in both the donor group and the recipient group. Scores of the recipient women (the questionnaire was reverse scored) were more than scores of the donor women. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean scores of self-concept (P=0.53). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the ought-self discrepancy score (P=0.02) but no significant difference was found between the two groups in the ideal-self discrepancy score (P=0.15). Conclusion: According to the results, it should be noted that in the process of oocyte donation, only physical assessment is not enough but individuals’ psychological needs are necessary to be taken into account. So, the authorities should consider measures to assess the psychological aspects of women receiving and donating oocyte

Investigating the role of defense mechanisms on marital adjustment in infertile couples based on the cause of infertility: A cross-sectional study

Background: Infertility affects individual’s and couples’ adjustment. The defense mechanism and marital adjustment are mental processes that play a key role in infertile couples’ life. Objective: This study aims to investigate the role of defense mechanisms on marital adjustment in infertile couples based on the cause of infertility. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 infertile couples at Royan Institute (A referral center for infertility, Tehran, Iran). Infertile couples were divided into 4 groups based on the cause of infertility (female, male, both, and unknown). Demographic questionnaire, revised dyadic adjustment scale, and defense styles questionnaire were used for data collection. Results: Results showed that the mean score of marital adjustment of men based on the cause of infertility (female, male, and both) was significantly higher in comparison with their wives (p = 0.04, p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.001, respectively). However, no difference was observed between the mean score of women, men, and couples (women and husbands) in defense mechanisms. But marital adjustment has a significant positive correlation with mature defense mechanisms and a negative correlation with immature ones (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The mean score of marital adjustment is higher in men than in their wives in all groups. So, counseling infertile couples in the field of marital adjustment and training in the use of mature defense mechanisms is recommended especially in women. Key words: Defense mechanism, Marital relationship, Infertility

Prevalence of Macrosomia in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Macrosomia is a risk factor for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes and previous studies have reported different prevalence of macrosomia in Iran. We conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the overall prevalence of macrosomia in Iran. Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of all published literature pertaining to prevalence rates of macrosomia using international and national electronic databases ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus, SID, Magiran and Google Scholar from their inception until June 2017 with standard keywords. Egger test and Funnel plot were used to evaluate the publication bias and Cochran test and I2 statistics were used to examine the statistical heterogeneity. Pooled estimate of the prevalence of macrosomia were calculated using random effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 40 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The publication bias assumption was rejected Egger test (P=0.719) and Funnel plot. The results of Cochran test and I2 statistics revealed substantial heterogeneity (Q=1040.5.00, df = 39, P2=96.3%). The overall prevalence of macrosomia using the random effect model in Iran was 5.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.4-5.9). Moreover, the macrosomia prevalence in Tehran and other cities were 3.9% (95% CI: 3.2-4.7) and 6.0% (95% CI: 5.0-7.1), respectively. Conclusion:The macrosomia rate in Iran is high. There is a critical need to improve the education and the gestational care and identifying at risk neonates to reduce the macrosomia rate and its adverse outcomes

The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised Indicator (BSS-RI): a validation study in Iranian mothers

Objective: Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised Indicator (BSS-RI) is a short selfreport instrument designed to measure satisfaction of the childbearing women’s experiences of labour and its outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Persian version of BSS-RI in Iranian mothers.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 396 mothers in Tehran, Iran, between July and September 2017. The mothers were administered the BSS-RI, and a demographic questionnaire. Internal consistency of the BSS-RI was examined with Cronbach’s alpha, construct validity was evaluated via exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and divergent validity was examined by correlating the BSS-RI with gestational age.Results: The EFA results demonstrated a two-factor structure corresponding to the Stress of Childbearing and Quality of Care domains of the structure proposed by provider. The Cronbach’s alpha for Stress of Childbearing and Quality of Care subscales and total BSS-RI were 0.665, 0.847, and 0.563, respectively. The mean of BSS-RI total score was 6.16 (SD = 2.60), and the Stress of Childbearing and Quality of Care subscales were 2.71 (SD = 2.39), and 3.45 (SD = 1.11), respectively. The BSS-RI showed no significant correlation with the gestational age, confirming divergent validity.Conclusion: Like the original English version, the Persian version of the BSS-RI is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring birth satisfaction in Iranian mothers. It can also be used as short and easy to administer tool for assessment of birth satisfaction in large sample survey research

Evaluating the factor structure, item analyses, and internal consistency of hospital anxiety and depression scale in Iranian infertile patients

Background: The hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) is a common screening tool designed to measure the level of anxiety and depression in different factor structures and has been extensively used in non-psychiatric populations and individuals experiencing fertility problems. Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the factor structure, item analyses, and internal consistency of HADS in Iranian infertile patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 651 infertile patients (248 men and 403 women) referred to a referral infertility Center in Tehran, Iran between January 2014 and January 2015. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the underlying factor structure of the HADS among one, two, and threefactor models. Several goodness of fit indices were utilized such as comparative, normed and goodness of fit indices, Akaike information criterion, and the root mean squared error of approximation. In addition to HADS, the Satisfaction with Life Scale questionnaires as well as demographic and clinical information were administered to all patients. Results: The goodness of fit indices through CFAs exposed that three and onefactor model provided the best and worst fit to the total, male and female datasets compared to the other factor structure models for the infertile patients. The Cronbach’s alpha for anxiety and depression subscales were 0.866 and 0.753 respectively. The HADS subscales significantly correlated with SWLS, indicating an acceptable convergent validity. Conclusion: The HADS was found to be a three-factor structure screening instrument in the field of infertility

Determinants of The Grade A Embryos in Infertile Women; Zero-Inflated Regression Model

Objective: In assisted reproductive technology, it is important to choose high quality embryos for embryo transfer. The aim of the present study was to determine the grade A embryo count and factors related to it in infertile women. Materials and Methods: This historical cohort study included 996 infertile women. The main outcome was the number of grade A embryos. Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression and Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) regression were used to model the count data as it contained excessive zeros. Stata software, version 13 (Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA) was used for all statistical analyses. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, results from the ZINB model show that for each unit increase in the number 2 pronuclear (2PN) zygotes, we get an increase of 1.45 times as incidence rate ratio (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.69, P=0.001) in the expected grade A embryo count number, and for each increase in the cleavage day we get a decrease 0.35 times (95% CI: 0.20-0.61, P=0.001) in expected grade A embryo count. Conclusion: There is a significant association between both the number of 2PN zygotes and cleavage day with the number of grade A embryos in both ZINB and ZIP regression models. The estimated coefficients are more plausible than values found in earlier studies using less relevant models

Psychometric properties of the satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) in Iranian infertile women

Background: Infertility is a global public health issue and may adversely affect life satisfaction. One of the most widely instruments used to assess life satisfaction is the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the SWLS in Iranian infertile women. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 125 infertile women referring to Royan Institute in Tehran were selected by convenience sampling method. The participants were administered the SWLS, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and a demographic questionnaire. The psychometric properties of the SWLS were examined: construct validity using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability using Cronbach’s alpha and convergent validity by examining the relationship with HADS. Result: Results of the CFA indicated that a single-factor model provides a good fit to the data (χ2/df= 1.58; GFI= 0.975; CFI= 0.995; NFI= 0.985; RMSEA= 0.069 and SRMR= 0.027). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for SWLS was 0.887. Significant negative correlations were found between SWLS and HADS scores for anxiety (r= -0.410) and depression (r= -0.434), indicating an acceptable convergent validity. Conclusion: The SWLS has adequate psychometric properties for assessing life satisfaction in Iranian infertile women

Attitude of A Sample of Iranian Researchers toward The Future of Stem Cell Research

Objective Stem cells that have unlimited proliferation potential as well as differentiation potency are considered to be a promising future treatment method for incurable diseases. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the future trend of stem cell researches from researchers’ viewpoints. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study on researchers involved in stem cell research at Royan Institute. We designed a questionnaire using a qualitative study based on expert opinion and a literature review. Content validity was performed using three rounds of the Delphi method with experts. Face validity was undertaken by a Persian literature expert and a graphics designer. The questionnaire was distributed among 150 researchers involved in stem cell studies in Royan Institute biology laboratories. Results We collected 138 completed questionnaires. The mean age of participants was 31.13 ± 5.8 years; most (60.9%) were females. Participants (76.1%) considered the budget to be the most important issue in stem cell research, 79.7% needed financial support from the government, and 77.5% felt that charities could contribute substantially to stem cell research. A total of 90.6% of participants stated that stem cells should lead to commercial usage which could support future researches (86.2%). The aim of stem cell research was stipulated as increasing health status of the society according to 92.8% of the participants. At present, among cell types, importance was attached to cord blood and adult stem cells. Researchers emphasized the importance of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) rather than hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs, 57.73%). The prime priorities were given to cancer so that stem cell research could be directed to sphere stem cell research whereas the least preference was given to skin research. Conclusion Regenerative medicine is considered the future of stem cell research with emphasis on application of these cells, especially in cancer treatment