Several recent studies have indicated that a significant number of patients drop out of infertility treatment programs voluntarily, not for financial reasons or on the advice of their physicians. Initial evidence suggests that psychological issues may play a major role in the patient’s decision. (Infertility Treatment Update®, Winter 2005)

• One study showed that acute stress measures had negative effects on the outcomes of successful pregnancy and live birth delivery. A 1-point increase in acute positive affect on the PANAS scale was associated with a 7% lower risk of no live birth delivery. (Klonoff-Cohen et al. Fertil Steril 2001;76:675-687.)
• The #1 reason patients drop out of fertility treatment is not because their physician was discouraging them from continuing, but because of the psychological burden. (Domar AD. Impact of psychological factors on dropout rates in insured infertility patients. Fertil Steril 2004;81:271-273.)
• Many patients seeking help with infertility drop out due to “emotional cost.” Studies show that patients receiving care from specialists have a much lower dropout rate. (Gleicher N, et al. Infertility dropout and insurance coverage. Obstet Gynecol, 1996;88:289-293.)

Holistic medical care is like a three-legged stool: medical procedures, pharmaceuticals and self-care are all important components. From this perspective, emotional well-being and lifestyle behaviors comprise an essential part in treatment and can have an important effect. Practicing relaxation techniques, making positive changes in lifestyle and participating in support groups can all help ease and enhance treatment.

Research shows that participants in these programs often experience significant decreases in stress-related physical symptoms and increases in pregnancy rates. Participants in Dr. Alice Domar’s Mind-Body program at Boston IVF have shown significant decreases in physical symptoms of stress and about half of all participants in their ten week program conceive. (http://www.bostonivf.com/)

In this study, 42% of the women who attended the Domar mind/body program conceived within six months of completing the program. The study also found that women could play an active role in reducing their depression by using the mind/body strategies we teach in our mind/body infertility program.
(A. Domar, et al. Journal of the American Women’s Association, 1999)

In a study looking at 184 women who had been trying to get pregnant for one to two years placed women in one of three groups: a mind/body group that learned many, but not all, of the techniques taught in the Domar mind/body program; a support group that met weekly to discuss the impact of infertility; and a control group, which received no intervention at all. The results were dramatic: Within a year 55% of the mind/body and 54% of the support-group participants conceived pregnancies that resulted in a baby, compared with only 20% of the control Group. (A. Domar, et al. Fertility and Sterility, 2000)