How Partner Communication Shapes IVF Mental Health
When you’re undergoing fertility treatment, the emotional terrain can feel as uncertain as the medical process. A recent 2025 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry explored how talking openly with your partner—known as self-disclosure—can influence depression during IVF/ICSI-ET treatment. But the research didn’t stop there. It also looked at two lesser-talked-about dynamics in relationships: marital satisfaction and power.
In this study, power refers specifically to who holds decision-making authority in the family—who decides on finances, parenting, big purchases, or long-term plans. Researchers call this “family decision-making power,” and it’s not just about control—it’s about how responsibilities and influence are shared in a couple. Surprisingly, more power didn’t always mean better outcomes.
Key Findings
1 in 3 IVF patients had severe depressive symptoms, with rates slightly higher in men (31.6%) than women (29%).
More open emotional communication (self-disclosure) was linked to less depression—but only when it boosted marital satisfaction.
Marital satisfaction had a protective effect, mediating 30% of the impact of communication on depression.
Family decision-making power had a surprising effect: more power was linked to higher depression levels, especially in men.
Men in the study reported higher decision-making power and marital satisfaction—but also slightly higher depression scores. It’s a reminder that feeling “in charge” doesn’t necessarily mean feeling emotionally well.
Marital satisfaction and decision-making power weren’t directly connected across the group. Holding more power didn’t reliably translate to feeling more supported or satisfied in the relationship.
Why This Matters
In my work with clients navigating infertility, I often hear the hidden stress beneath what looks like “good communication.” This study reminds us that it’s not just about talking—it’s about whether your partner hears you, supports you, and meets you emotionally in the storm.
Interestingly, having more control in the household—something that might seem like a protective buffer—was actually linked to more depressive symptoms. That tells us that carrying the weight of decision-making during a vulnerable time may come at a cost, especially when the outcomes feel uncertain and the stakes are deeply personal.
Marital satisfaction isn’t a luxury during treatment. It’s a buffer. It’s the thing that can hold you emotionally when treatment leaves you feeling out of control. Helping couples create spaces for real emotional disclosure—not just updates or logistics—can be a quiet but powerful act of protection.
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