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Purpose: Infertility is a widespread disease that often has a negative effect on the mental health of infertile patients. A common reaction of infertile patients is depression, but there is still inconclusiveness regarding the level of depression in infertile patients. The aim of this study was to examine the level of depression in infertile patients, and to assess existing preventive health services.

Material and Methods: Thirty-nine infertile women and 24 infertile men of a Swiss fertility centre completed self-report questionnaires on depression, physical health, and the degree of suffering from unfulfilled child wish.

Results: A high proportion of the infertile patients reported depressive symptoms. More than 40 % scored above the threshold of mild depression and 26 % showed clinically relevant depressive symptoms. The depression score of one partner related to the depression score and the suffering caused by infertility of the other partner. The cause of infertility was not linked to the levels of depression of infertile patients.

Conclusions: A great proportion of Swiss infertile patients experience depressive symptoms reaching sometimes clinically relevant levels of depression. Offering psychological or pharmacological support for patients during the medical treatment of infertility seems advisable in order to prevent and treat the patients' depressive symptoms.