Alternative therapies and IVF

A recent study in Cardiff University found that women using complementary and alternative treatments (CATs) were less likely to conceive with IVF. The alternative therapies listed were things like herbal remedies, reflexology and acupuncture, hypnotherapy was not among the alternative treatments used.

The study found that women who used CAT had a 20% lower pregnancy success rate over the 12-month treatment period. Our findings do not allow us to make a direct causal link between CAT use and pregnancy rate", says Dr. Boivin. "It may be that complementary therapies diminish the effectiveness of medical interventions, as has been shown in previous research. Or it may simply be that persistent treatment failure encourages women to seek out CATs because they are more willing to try anything to get pregnant."

In my opinion, the term ‘persistent treatment failure’ says it all. And, for ‘more willing to try anything’; read 'desperate'. Desperation is a negative mental attitude that focuses on failure. While a woman may be doing everything she believes right to help her conceive she might be undermining her efforts with the negative self belief of desperation.

The research goes onto say that formal psychological support is more useful to relieve stress than alternative therapies, but women don't seek it out because of the stigma. Perhaps the women seeking help need to know this.

To read the whole article see: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/75984.php