Alternative Therapy Linked to Infertility

Jul 04, 09:38 PM

Current Headlines: By REBECCA SMITH

WOMEN who use complementary therapies during fertility treatment are less likely to conceive, research shows.

However, it is not clear what is cause and what is effect.

It is not known if the 20 per cent lower pregnancy rate is because women who have a poor prognosis, or have failed with fertility treatment before, are likelier to try the therapies or if the therapies harm their chances of having a child.

Many women use acupuncture and reflexology to relieve stress during fertility treatment or take nutritional supplements to help them conceive.

Dr Jacky Boivin, from the School of Psychology at Cardiff University where the research was carried out, said: "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 complementary because they are more willing to try anything to get pregnant." The Cardiff team examined the psychological and medical profiles of 818 Danish women at the start of their fertility treatment and which ones used complementary therapies in the following year.

Dr Boivin said: "We found that women who went on to use complementary therapies were more distressed by their fertility problems than non-users." She said psychological therapies were more effective at relieving stress but women were often reluctant to ask their doctor for these because of the stigma attached.

Professor Edzard Ernst, director of complementary medicine at the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, said the study showed use of complementary medicine "could act as a marker for patients needing more attention".

However, he added: "It does not say anything about the effectiveness of complementary therapy in fertility treatment."

OBESE women may be more likely to suffer a miscarriage.

Researchers who analysed 16 studies found that women with a body mass index above 30 were at greater risk of miscarriage. Mostafa Metwally, of Sheffield, told a reproduction conference in Lyon today that studies also showed a higher miscarriage risk for obese women having IVF, even if the egg donor had an average BMI.

Professor Bill Ledger, of Sheffield University Hospital, said: "We presume women who lose weight will reduce their risk of miscarriage and it is good news There are few drugs that work for miscarriage."

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