Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Wellbeing amongst the Fertility Population: Web- based Cross- Sectional Study

Objective: Effect of the pandemic, and associated disruption of reproductive services, on mental wellbeing of those whose fertility journey was disrupted during the first phase of COVID-19 Design: Web- based cross- sectional study Setting: Not for profit fertility clinic Population: Fertility patients Methods: Web- based cross- sectional study of fertility patients who had an appointment over a 7 week period Main Outcome Measures: Effect of the pandemic on mental wellbeing of those whose fertility journey was disrupted Results: 135 responses were received giving a response rate of 16.3%. 117 responses were analysed following exclusion of incomplete responses. The mean well- being score in our population was 45.03 + 0.796 (n=117), significantly lower than the published average WEMWBS score (P<0.0001). When a gender-based analysis was performed, female fertility patients had a lower score during the period under observation compared to the published average WEMWBS scores (Female: 49.6 + 0.34, n=644 vs 44.4 + 0.88, n=99, P< 0.0001; Male: 50 + 0.43, n=4429 vs 47.3 + 1.81, n=26, P=0.136). There was no significant difference in average well-being score in the 30-39yr category compared to the over 40yr group (44.9 + 0.97 vs 45.0 + 1.39). Participants with children scored higher than those without (46.8 + 1.19 (n=38) vs 44.1 + 1.02 (n=79)). Conclusions: Increased levels of depression and anxiety coupled with added uncertainty of clinic closures and disruption to services have led to a statistically significant lower WEMWBS scores in the fertility population.