Sunday November 22, 2009
Two new studies revealed that how you cope with the stress of IVF may affect treatment success.
One study done in Israel found that women who were able to "let go" had higher pregnancy rates than women whose main coping mechanism was to try and control situations.
In a separate study, this one done in Boston, IVF patients with favorable FSH and estrogen blood levels were either placed in a group that received mind-body training or a group without mind-body training. (While the study summary I read didn't specify which mind-body techniques were taught, they had something to do with relaxation training and cognitive coping techniques.)
In this study, the first IVF cycle success rates were the same for both the mind-body participants and the control group. However, during the second IVF cycle, mind-body participants' had significantly better pregnancy rates - 52% got pregnant, compared to just 20%.
How do you cope with the stress of trying to conceive? For me, it was yoga and guided imagery that helped me cope best. That being said, it was during one of my most stressed out cycles that I actually managed to be successful, and not one of the calmer-less-crazy cycles. Ironic, perhaps.
Whether or not coping skills can help you get pregnant is beside the point, in my opinion. Yes, of course, it's great if coping better will help. But shouldn't fertility clinics, doctors, and, for that matter, fertility patients themselves want to cope better just because life shouldn't lose its enjoyment and brightness just because you're trying to have a baby?
I understand that if research shows improved pregnancy rates when coping skills are taught, then doctors are more likely to make that part of the overall treatment. But they should be part of treatment anyway. We deserve to feel good - whether it'll help us get a "big fat positive" faster or not.
What are your thoughts? How do you cope (or not) while dealing with infertility? Please share in the comments -- I'd love to hear from you!
More on coping with infertility:
Sunday November 15, 2009
Over the past several weeks, you may have seen news reports urging "high risk" groups to get H1N1 swine flu shots. Pregnant women fall into the category of "high risk" for swine flu, and so a logical question is, what about those not yet pregnant, but trying? Should they also get the shot?
While not considered a high risk group, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the CDC seem to think those trying to get pregnant should get the H1N1 flu shot whenever it becomes available to non-high risk groups in your area. The logic is that it's better to get it now, before you become pregnant.
Of course, just because they recommend the shot doesn't mean you have to get the shot. It's a choice to make. Some fertility clinics are requiring IVF patients to get the shot before treatment, but from what I understand, it's not that common. Mostly, it's being strongly recommended.
Do you plan on getting the H1N1 swine flu shot? Take our poll, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
More about the H1N1 swine flu shot:
Wednesday November 4, 2009
If I had to say which two causes of infertility get the most press, I'd say it was age related infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as PCOS. PCOS is a common endocrine disorder in women, affecting up to 8% of women.
There are a lot of misconceptions about polycystic ovarian syndrome. For one, some women (and even doctors!) seem to assume if a woman is having trouble with ovulation, and age isn't the cause, then PCOS is an obvious answer. But that's simply not true! There are a range of causes of anovulation, and while polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common cause, it's important to rule out other causes before diagnosis.
Another misconception about PCOS is that only women who are overweight have PCOS. This is one I've run into personally. I had just switched my gynecologist, and had a polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosis from my previous doctor, based on blood work, ultrasound confirmation of polycystic ovaries, and symptoms.
But when giving over my history to my new doctor, when I said I have PCOS, she said, "No you don't." I didn't even know how to respond to that! I felt like a four year old when I said, "Yes, I do."
My new doctor was looking at me - at a healthy weight - and assuming I could not possibly have PCOS. I eventually had to "prove" it with my old records, but it was an uncomfortable situation.
Learn more about what you need to know about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in this article.
Sunday October 25, 2009
Could reflexology become the next alternative medicine option for infertility? According to a news article at the UK DailyMail website, the IVF unit at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, England will be starting a two year clinical trial to find out.
The article says that some women feel reflexology has helped them become pregnant, but as of today, no research has looked into the claims. This will be the first study on reflexology and infertility.
Reflexology is an alternative treatment method that believes certain "reflex" points on the feet and hands correspond to particular organs and systems in the body.
For the trial, 150 women will be offered reflexology treatment instead of treatment with the fertility drug Clomid.
The study sounds interesting, and I'm curious of what the results will be. It's good to see researchers looking into more alternative treatment methods.
Right now, acupuncture is one of the few research studied alternative treatment methods for infertility, but there are quite a few alternative treatment methods claiming their "way" works. My hope is that researchers will take the time to look into these different techniques and claims, so women will not only have more options, but also, so that money, time, and effort isn't wasted on methods that just do not really work.
Have you ever tried reflexology, or any other alternative treatment method? Share your experiences in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you!
More information:
