We examined psychological status, such as stressor, anxiety, and depression after receiving the genetic counseling for NIPT in the view point of ART. We subjected 529 pregnant women who wished NIPT and answered to the questionnaire after receiving the genetic counseling between June 2014 and February 2015. The subjects were sub-classified into two groups : one is spontaneous pregnancy (Ngroup) and another is artificial pregnancy through ART (ARTgroup). The questionnaire included a psychosocial factor evaluation tag named HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and stressVAS. This study was approved by institutional Ethics Committee. Answers of 529 pregnant women were collected, and classified into ARTgroup (n=121) and Ngroup (n=288). The average age, in ARTgroup were significantly higher than that in Ngroup.
The gestational weeks of testing in ARTgroup was significantly earlier than in Ngroup. We could not observe any significant difference in the psychosocial factors, in both HADS-A, and HADS-D. Levels of stressVAS in ARTgroup was slightly higher than Ngroup. These findings indicated that genetic counseling, including psychological supports should be provided to pregnant women who get pregnant through ART.
