Seyhan Sönmez1, Mustafa Öztürk2, Ferhan Sönmez3, Ersen Eraydın3, Mehmet Caner Özer4, Murat Serkant Ünal5, Seyit Temel Ceyhan2. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. Electronic address: seyhansonmez@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, S.B.U. Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility Unit, Denizli State Hospital, Denizli, Turkey. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility Unit, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility Unit, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics and the most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods among infertile couples. A secondary aim was to assess predictors and patients' attitude to disclose the usage of CAM. METHODS: This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey and conducted on patients admitted to infertility clinics of two hospitals. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CAM among 324 infertile participants (162 couples) was 25.6 % (n = 83). 48 % of the infertile couples had experience with at least one type of CAM method and the most commonly used CAM was herbal products (84 %). The frequency of CAM tended to be higher among females compared to males (33 % versus 17 %, respectively; p = 0.02). Patients who failed to conceive with previous medical therapies were more inclined to use CAM (p = 0.01). After logistic regression analyses, only gender and previous unsuccessful ART treatment were found to be associated independently with CAM use. CONCLUSION: CAM use is common among infertile population. CAM users were more likely to be women at any age who had failed to achieve a pregnancy with previous artificial reproductive treatment(s), mainly used herbal products and mostly reluctant to report the use of CAM.
PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics and the most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods among infertile couples. A secondary aim was to assess predictors and patients' attitude to disclose the usage of CAM. METHODS: This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey and conducted on patients admitted to infertility clinics of two hospitals. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CAM among 324 infertileparticipants (162 couples) was 25.6 % (n = 83). 48 % of the infertile couples had experience with at least one type of CAM method and the most commonly used CAM was herbal products (84 %). The frequency of CAM tended to be higher among females compared to males (33 % versus 17 %, respectively; p = 0.02). Patients who failed to conceive with previous medical therapies were more inclined to use CAM (p = 0.01). After logistic regression analyses, only gender and previous unsuccessful ART treatment were found to be associated independently with CAM use. CONCLUSION: CAM use is common among infertile population. CAM users were more likely to be women at any age who had failed to achieve a pregnancy with previous artificial reproductive treatment(s), mainly used herbal products and mostly reluctant to report the use of CAM.