Personality Traits and Hormonal Correlates in Women Undergoing IVF Treatment

Abstract: This study examined the associations between Alternative Five-Factor Model (AFFM) personality traits and hormonal indicators in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), and compared personality profiles between women with female-factor infertility and those in male-factor infertility couples. The sample consisted of 76 women assessed using the Zuckerman–Kuhlman–Aluja Personality Questionnaire (ZKA-PQ). Hormonal data (LH, FSH, prolactin, TSH, FT4, estradiol, and progesterone) were obtained from routine clinical analyses. Correlation analyses revealed selective and modest associations between personality traits and hormonal levels. Estradiol showed the most consistent pattern, being positively associated with sensation seeking, neuroticism, activity, and aggression. Progesterone was primarily related to activity and aggression, whereas TSH and FSH were negatively associated with extraversion. Other hormones showed limited or domain-specific associations. Facet-level analyses indicated that these relationships were more differentiated at lower levels of personality structure. Group comparisons indicated that women in male-factor infertility couples reported higher levels of neuroticism, particularly anxiety and low self-esteem, compared to women with female-factor infertility, while no differences were observed for other traits. Overall, findings support the view that hormone–personality relationships are indirect, modest, and most evident for biologically proximal traits. The results highlight the value of integrating biologically grounded personality models in reproductive health research and underscore the importance of considering both endocrine and psychosocial factors in understanding infertility.