This study explores whether undergoing medically assisted reproduction (MAR) is
associated with experiencing loneliness and whether this association varies by
gender and having a live birth. Using two waves of the Generations and Gender
Survey (n = 2,725) from countries in Central and Eastern Europe, we estimate the
changes in levels of emotional and social loneliness among pregnancy seekers in
heterosexual relationships and test if they vary by the mode of conception while
controlling for individual sociodemographic characteristics. Individuals who
underwent MAR experienced increased levels of social loneliness compared to
individuals who were trying to conceive spontaneously. This association is
entirely driven by respondents who did not have a live birth between the two
observation periods, while the results did not differ by gender. No differences
emerged in emotional loneliness. Our findings suggest that increased social
loneliness during the MAR process might be attributable to infertility-related
stress and stigma.