Depression Among Infertile Women Attending an IVF Center in Al-Basra:A Preliminary Case–Control Study

Background: Depression is common among infertile women, partly due to social stigma and marital pressures. Data remains scarce in low-resource settings like Al-Basra. The study aims to estimate the prevalence of depression among infertile women and examine factors linked to its severity. Methods: This pilot case–control study recruited 100 infertile women (cases) and 100 fertile women (controls) at the IVF and gynecology clinics of Al-Basra Hospital for Women and Children from August–November 2022. Participants completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Sociodemographic data (e.g., marriage order, family psychiatric history) were collected. Results: Among infertile women, 76% met criteria for depression compared to 5% of controls (p=0.001). More than half reported moderate-to-severe symptoms. Second marriage status was associated with higher BDI-II scores, and a positive family history of psychiatric disorders correlated with more severe depression. Conclusion: Depression appears highly prevalent among infertile women in Al-Basra, suggesting the need for routine psychological screening and support in fertility clinics. Future research should employ randomized samples and structured clinical interviews to confirm these findings and improve generalizability.