Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background:Preconception interventions in infertile couples can increase the chance of
pregnancy and lower its complications. The success in infertility treatment and achieving a
successful pregnancy is of great importance among infertile couples compared to others.
This study has tried to investigate necessary preconception interventions before beginning
of infertility treatment cycle among infertile couples. Materials and Methods: This is a
cross‑sectional study of 268 individuals presenting to fertility clinics (Moshtagh and Shahid
beheshty) across the city of Isfahan, Iran. Simple sampling method was used. Questionnaire
and patients’ medical records were used to collect data. Descriptive and analytic statistical
methods and SPSS software were used for analysis. Results: The results showed that the
interventions related to diseases treatment and prescription of folic acid before the beginning
of infertility treatment were complete for most of the subject (47.06% and 79.9% respectively),
but referral for genetics counseling had not been conducted in most of the cases (98.9%).
Specific interventions in relation with the infertility treatment before beginning the treatment
cycle had been conducted in 50% of the subjects. Conclusion: The results of this study showed
a weakness concerning necessary preconception interventions before beginning of infertility
treatment cycle in most of the studied subjects. With regard to the effect of preconception
interventions on outcome of infertility treatment, and with consideration of high importance
of pregnancy success in infertile couples, paying more attention to conduct this manner is
necessary.

Keywords

1. Wade GH, Herrman J, McBeth‑Snyder LA. Preconception care
program for women in a college setting. MCN Am J Matern Child
Nurs 2012;37:164‑70.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preconception
health indicators among women‑Texas, 2002‑2010. MMWR Morb
Mortal Wkly Rep 2012;61:550‑5.
3. Yakir S, Riskin‑Mashiah S, Lavie O, Auslender R. Medical
evaluation prior to fertility treatment‑time for reconsideration?.
Harefuah 2011;150:844‑8, 875.
4. Mascarenhas MN, Cheung H, Mathers CD, Stevens GA. Measuring
infertility in populations: Constructing a standard definition for use
with demographic and reproductive health surveys. Popul Health
Metr 2012;10:17.
5. Bushnik T, Cook JL, Yuzpe AA, Tough S, Collins J. Estimating the
prevalence of infertility in Canada. Hum Reprod 2012;27:738‑46.
6. Aflatoonian A, Seyedhassani SM, Tabibnejad N. The epidemiological
and etiological aspects of infertility in Yazd province of Iran. Iran J
Rep Med 2009;7:117‑22.
7. Safarinejad MR. Infertility among couples in a population‑based
in Iran: Prevalence and associated risk factors. Int J Androl
2008;31:303‑14.
8. Moran LJ, Brinkworth G, Noakes M, Norman RJ. Effects of lifestyle
modification in polycystic ovarian syndrome. Reprod Biomed Online
2006;12:569‑78.
9. Bombard JM, Robbins CL, Dietz PM, Valderrama AL. Preconception
care: The perfect opportunity for health care providers to advise
lifestyle changes for hypertensive women. Am J Health Promot
2013;27 (3 Suppl):S43‑9.10. Twigt JM, Bolhuis ME, Steegers EA, Hammiche F, van Inzen WG,
Laven JS, et al. The preconception diet is associated with the chance
of ongoing pregnancy in women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment.
Hum Reprod 2012;27:2526‑31.
11. van der Zee B, de Beaufort I, Temel S, de Wert G, Denktas S,
Steegers E. Preconception care: An essential preventive strategy
to improve children’s and women’s health. J Public Health Policy
2011;32:367‑79.
12. Anderson K, Nisenblat V, Norman R. Lifestyle factors in people
seeking infertility treatment‑A review. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol
2010;50:8‑20.
13. Riskin‑Mashiah S, Auslander R. Quality of medical care in diabetic
women undergoing fertility treatment: We should do better!
Diabetes Care 2011;34:2164‑9.
14. Merz WM, Gembruch U. Preconception and contraceptive
counselling of women with cardiovascular diseases. Z Geburtshilfe
Neonatol 2012;216:45‑53.
15. Frishman GN, Suprell TP, Heber WW. Folic acid Preconception
knowledge and use by infertile women. J Reprod Med
2001;46:1025‑30.
16. De Weerd S, Thomas CM, Cikot RJ, Steegers‑Theunissen RP, de
Boo TM, Steegers EA. Preconception counseling improves folate
status of women planning pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 2002;99:45‑50.
17. Blencowe H, Cousens S, Modell B, Lawn J. Folic acid to reduce
neonatal mortality from neural tube disorders. Int J Epidemiol
2010;39 Supppl 1:i110‑21.
18. Lee JY, Dada R, Sabanegh E, Carpi A, Agarwal A. Role of Genetic
in Azoospermia. Urology 2011;77:598‑601.
19. Altmae S, Stayreus‑Evers A, Ruiz JR, Laanpere M, Syvanen T,
Yngve A, et al. Variations in folate pathway genes are associated
with unexplained female infertility. Fertil Steril 2010;94:130‑7.
20. Bonham VL, Knerr S, Feero WG, Stevens N, Jenkins JF, McBride CM.
Patient phsical charactristics and primary care physician decision
making in preconception genetic screening. Public Health Genomic
2010;13:336‑44.
21. McFarland C. Treating polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility.
MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs 2012;37:116‑21.
22. Rowlands I, Graves N, de Jersey S, Mclntyre HD, Callaway L. Obesity
in pregnancy: Outcomes and economics. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med
2010;15:94‑9.
23. Scialli AR. Teratology public affairs committee position paper:
Maternal obesity and pregnancy. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol
Teratol 2006;76:73‑7.
24. ESHRE Capri Workshop Group. Nutrition and reproduction in
women. Hum Reprod Update 2006;12:193‑207.
25. Mmbaga N, Luk J. The impact of preconceptual diet on the
outcome of reproductive treatments. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol
2012;24:127‑31.
26. Grainger DA, Fraizer LM, Rowland CA. Preconception care and
treatment with assisted reproductive technologies. Matern Child
Health J 2006;10 (5 Suppl):S161‑4.