Virtual Reality for Anxiety Relief in Infertile Women

This doctoral study aims to evaluate the use of virtual reality (VR) as an innovative, non-invasive intervention for managing anxiety during embryo transfer in assisted reproductive technology (ART). A randomized clinical trial will be conducted with 80 participants, aged 18 to 50, undergoing fertility treatment at a healthcare facility in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the intervention group (n=40), which will experience a VR session both before and after the embryo transfer, and the control group (n=40), which will receive standard care without VR. Anxiety levels will be assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at two time points-pre- and post-embryo transfer.

The primary objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of VR in reducing procedural anxiety, a factor known to negatively affect patient experience and potentially influence treatment outcomes. The findings are expected to support the integration of patient-centered, technology-enhanced strategies in reproductive healthcare practices.

Inclusion criteria

• Volunteered to participate in the research,
• 18-50 years old
• No vision and hearing problems,
• Not disoriented in time and place,
• Primary infertile
• Not having communication problem
• Can read & write
• No mental pathological disease

Exclusion criteria

• Secondary infertility
• Having experienced bleeding, miscarriage, etc. after embryo transfer,
• Difficulty communicating,
• Problems such as migraine, vertigo, dizziness,
• Patients who wear prescription glasses and have vision problems without glasses
• Refused to participate in the research
• Patients with psychiatric pathology