Progesterone-Related Issues and Coping Strategies for Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Treatment

Abstract

Objective:This study aims to identify the problems experienced by women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment due to progesterone use, as well as their coping strategies.Methods:The study included 145 women who were admitted to an infertility outpatient clinic of a university hospital between July 25 and August 8, 2022. The researchers collected data using a questionnaire designed to assess the problems that might arise due to the use of various types of progesterone-containing drugs and coping methods. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics in the SPSS program.Results:The mean age of the women was 30.76±5.53 years, and the mean duration of their marriages was 6.6±4.51 years. Of women 64.8% had primary infertility and 68.3% of women underwent assisted reproductive treatment (ART) at least once before. Women who received intramuscular progesterone treatment during ART frequently experienced pain, swelling, abscess, redness at the injection site. Women who received progesterone treatment vaginally experienced vaginal wetness, drying of the drug in the vagina, lumps, the drug leaving the body, the drug not being completely absorbed, vaginal itching. Women who received progesterone treatment orally experienced sleepiness, nausea, dizziness, headache, fatigue. Women coped with these problems using various methods.Conclusion:The study revealed that women undergoing ART experienced many problems related to the use of progesterone and they attempted to address these issues through their own means. It is necessary to inform patients and to plan nursing interventions to minimize/eliminate these problems.

Keywords

• coping
• infertility
• progesterone
• assisted reproductive treatment