Program
Nurse-Midwifery M.S.
Number of Pages
44
Year Approved
2026
First Advisor
Paige Hardy
Second Reader
Rebecca D'Addosio Smith
Abstract
Introduction: Infertility affects roughly 17.5% of adults worldwide, while pregnancy loss occurs in up to 30% of pregnancies. These reproductive traumas increase the risk of developing a mental health disorder, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this review is to identify the influence of patient-centered care on psychological outcomes and experiences of care in women with infertility and pregnancy loss.
Methods: A literature search of the PubMed and Cinahl databases was conducted for original studies published from January 2016 to January 2026 that address the psychological outcomes and/or experiences of women who experienced infertility or pregnancy loss. Citation searching and hand searching of three relevant journals were also performed, which altogether yielded 21 articles for inclusion.
Results: Infertility and pregnancy loss increased rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, with patient experience of care directly influencing these rates; patient-centered communication and trauma-informed care improved psychological outcomes. Women valued compassionate communication and appropriate psychological care more than the physical care provided and overwhelmingly reported inadequate care after pregnancy loss.
Discussion: The literature largely focuses on mental health after pregnancy loss, with limited research available on the psychological outcomes of women with infertility. There is a distinct lack of validated tools and guidelines specific to these populations, which presents an area for future research. Clinicians should seek to improve their practice by utilizing compassionate patient-centered communication, individualizing follow-up care (including during subsequent pregnancies), and performing mental health screenings with appropriate referral/treatment.
Degree Name
M.S. Nurse-Midwifery
Document Type
Masterʼs thesis
Recommended Citation
Sweazy, K. R. (2026). The Impact of Patient-Centered Care on Women With Infertility and Pregnancy Loss: An Integrative Review [Masterʼs thesis, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/1274
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