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.