PURPOSE: The study aimed to develop a mind-body therapeutic program and evaluate its effects on mitigating uncertainty, anxiety, and implantation rate of second-trial in vitro fertilization (IVF) women. METHODS: This study employed a nonequivalent control group nonsynchronized design. The conceptual framework and program content were developed from a preliminary survey of eight infertile women and the extensive review of the literature. Program focuses on three uncertainty-induced anxieties in infertile women: cognitive, emotional, and biological responses. To evaluate the effect of the intervention, the infertile women with unknown cause preparing for a second IVF treatment were sampled at convenience (26 experimental and 24 control). RESULTS: The experimental group in the study showed greater decrease in uncertainty and anxiety in premeasurements and postmeasurements than the control group did. However, no statistically significant differences in the implantation rate between groups were observed. CONCLUSION: This study is meaningful as the first intervention program for alleviating uncertainty and anxiety provided during the IVF treatment process. The positive effects of the mind-body therapeutic program in alleviating both uncertainty and anxiety have direct meaning for clinical applications.
Adult ; *Anxiety/psychology/therapy ; Case-Control Studies ; Embryo Implantation ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro/*psychology ; Humans ; Infertility, Female/*psychology ; Mind-Body Therapies/*methods ; Treatment Outcome ; *Uncertainty ; Women/*psychology

OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of acupuncture combined Chinese materia medica for tonifying shen and soothing gan (CMMTSSG) on the anxiety and depression of patients with in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation (IVF-ET), and to observe the treatment outcomes.

METHODSTotally 97 IVF-ET patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the acupuncture combined CMMTSSG (group A, 51 cases) and the Western medicine treatment group (group B, 46 cases). The long protocol of IVF-ET in a mid luteal phase was performed in all patients. Patients in group A received acupuncture and CMMTSSG (erzhi tiangui granule and xiaoyao granule) during the process of ovarian hyperstimulation, while those in group B only received the routines of IVF-ET. The improvement of Shen deficiency Gan depression syndrome (SDGDS) between after and before treatment were observed in the two groups. The changes of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and Beck depression inventory (BDI) score were observed. The endometrial thickness, typing, and endometrial blood flow resistance index (RI) on the day of injecting HCG, the number of retrieved oocytes, the rate of high quality oocytes, the fertilization rate, the rate of high quality embryos, and the clinical pregnancy rate were respectively compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of SDGDS, SAS, and BDI were improved more obviously in group A than in group B, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the endometrial thickness on the day of injecting HCG between the two groups (P > 0.05). The proportion of type A endometrium was 74.5% (38/51 cases) in group A and 45.7% (21/46 cases) in group B, showing statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The RI was significantly lower in group A (0.48 +/- 0.03) than in group B on the day of injecting HCG (0.52 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the number of retrieved oocytes and the fertilization rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). The rate of high quality oocyte, the rate of high quality embryos, and the clinical pregnancy rate were all improved more significantly in group A than in group B, showing statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture combined CM-MTSSG could obviously alleviate unfavorable emotions as anxiety and depression in patients with IVF-ET, effectively improve the treatment outcomes. Its effects might be correlated with lowering the excitability of the sympathetic nervous system, elevating the quality of oocytes, and improving the endometrial receptivity.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Anxiety ; therapy ; Depression ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Embryo Transfer ; psychology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; psychology ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a Yoga-focused prenatal program on the stress, anxiety, self confidence and labor pain of pregnant women who had in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. METHODS: A quasi experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The data collection period and meditation program were between January 9 and August 31, 2009. Forty-six women who were pregnant following IVF, and were between 12-20 weeks gestation, participated in the study (23 experimental group, 23 control group). Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U Test, ANCOVA, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients with the SPSS 12.0 for Windows Program. RESULTS: Although the sample size was limited, women who participated in the program showed statistically significant improvements in stress, anxiety, labor pain, and labor confidence for women pregnant after IVF. CONCLUSION: The result indicate that this 12-week Yoga-focused educational program can be utilized for women pregnant following IVF to reduce their stress, anxiety, and labor pain, and to increase delivery confidence. It is suggested that the Yoga-focused educational program be offered to every pregnant woman.
Adult ; Anxiety/*prevention & control ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Labor Pain/*therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women/*psychology ; Program Development ; *Self Concept ; Stress, Psychological ; *Yoga

OBJECTIVE: To measure Irish opinion on a range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments. METHODS: A nationally representative sample of Irish adults (n=1,003) were anonymously sampled by telephone survey. RESULTS: Most participants (77%) agreed that any fertility services offered internationally should also be available in Ireland, although only a small minority of the general Irish population had personal familiarity with AHR or infertility. This sample finds substantial agreement (63%) that the Government of Ireland should introduce legislation covering AHR. The range of support for gamete donation in Ireland ranged from 53% to 83%, depending on how donor privacy and disclosure policies are presented. For example, donation where the donor agrees to be contacted by the child born following donation, and anonymous donation where donor privacy is completely protected by law were supported by 68% and 66%, respectively. The least popular (53%) donor gamete treatment type appeared to be donation where the donor consents to be involved in the future life of any child born as a result of donor fertility treatment. Respondents in social class ABC1 (58%), age 18 to 24 (62%), age 25 to 34 (60%), or without children (61%) were more likely to favour this donor treatment policy in our sample. CONCLUSION: This is the first nationwide assessment of Irish public opinion on the advanced reproductive technologies since 2005. Access to a wide range of AHR treatment was supported by all subgroups studied. Public opinion concerning specific types of AHR treatment varied, yet general support for the need for national AHR legislation was reported by 63% of this national sample. Contemporary views on AHR remain largely consistent with the Commission for Assisted Human Reproduction recommendations from 2005, although further research is needed to clarify exactly how popular opinion on these issues has changed. It appears that legislation allowing for the full range of donation options (and not mandating disclosure of donor identity at a stipulated age) would better align with current Irish public opinion.
Adult ; Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Child ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Disclosure ; Fertility ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Ireland ; Jurisprudence ; Privacy ; Public Opinion* ; Public Policy ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Reproduction* ; Reproductive Techniques ; Social Class ; Telephone ; Tissue Donors