QuestionnaFertility Quality of Life Questionnaire (FertiQoL-36)

Introduction

The Fertility Quality of Life Questionnaire (FertiQoL-36) is a specialized self-report instrument developed to assess the impact of fertility problems on an individual’s quality of life. Created through an international collaboration between fertility experts and patient organizations, the questionnaire measures the emotional, physical, relational, and social consequences of infertility. It is widely used in reproductive medicine, psychology, and fertility research to evaluate patient well-being and treatment outcomes.

Description

The FertiQoL-36 consists of 36 items organized into several domains that assess the multidimensional effects of infertility, including:

  • Emotional well-being.
  • Mind–body functioning.
  • Relational quality.
  • Social functioning.
  • Treatment environment.
  • Treatment tolerability.

Responses are typically recorded using a 5-point Likert scale, allowing the calculation of domain-specific scores and an overall fertility-related quality of life score.

Purpose

The FertiQoL-36 is designed to:

  • Assess fertility-related quality of life.
  • Identify psychosocial difficulties associated with infertility.
  • Evaluate the impact of fertility treatments.
  • Monitor patient outcomes over time.
  • Support clinical decision-making and psychosocial interventions.

Administration

The questionnaire is self-administered and generally requires 10–15 minutes to complete. It can be administered to women, men, or couples undergoing fertility evaluation or treatment in both clinical and research settings.

Scoring

Items are scored according to the official FertiQoL scoring guidelines. Responses are transformed into standardized domain scores and an overall quality of life score, with higher scores indicating better fertility-related quality of life and lower levels of distress.

Interpretation

Higher FertiQoL-36 scores reflect better emotional adjustment, healthier interpersonal relationships, greater social functioning, and a more positive experience with fertility treatment. Lower scores indicate a greater psychosocial burden and may identify individuals who could benefit from counseling or psychological support.

Statistical Analysis

The psychometric evaluation of the FertiQoL-36 commonly includes:

  • Descriptive statistics.
  • Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha).
  • Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA/CFA).
  • Test–retest reliability.
  • Convergent and discriminant validity.
  • Correlation and regression analyses.
  • Group comparisons (t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA).

The questionnaire has demonstrated strong reliability and validity across numerous languages and cultural adaptations.

Applications

The FertiQoL-36 is widely used in:

  • Reproductive medicine.
  • Fertility and IVF clinics.
  • Clinical psychology.
  • Women’s and men’s health research.
  • Quality-of-life and patient-reported outcome studies.

Advantages

  • Specifically developed for individuals experiencing infertility.
  • Comprehensive assessment of fertility-related quality of life.
  • Strong international psychometric validation.
  • Suitable for both clinical practice and research.
  • Sensitive to changes during fertility treatment.

Limitations

As a self-report instrument, responses may be influenced by emotional state, cultural beliefs, relationship factors, and treatment stage. Interpretation should be combined with clinical evaluation and other psychosocial assessment tools.

References

Boivin, J., Takefman, J., & Braverman, A. (2011). The Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) Tool: Development and General Psychometric Properties.

Boivin, J., et al. (2011). International development of the FertiQoL questionnaire for measuring quality of life in people experiencing fertility problems.

European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). FertiQoL User Guide and Scoring Manual.