Associations between assisted reproductive technologies and women’s mental health: an investigation using clinical data linkage.

The use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) to aid conception is increasingly common. The invasive, lengthy, and expensive nature of ART causes significant psychological strain, including fear of failure and social stigma. Furthermore, impaired reproductive function is more common in women with a prior history of severe mental illness (SMI). Therefore, understanding the risks and experiences of ART is important. There is some evidence that ART increases the likelihood of severe mental health illnesses in the mother, but experiences and treatment success may vary. The present investigation aims to use linked routinely collected electronic mental healthcare data from a clinical population of mothers who have undergone ART and conceived naturally.