The Mind-Body Program
| "The majority of the research thus far does support the theory that
the more distressed one is before an IVF cycle, the less likely one is to conceive." — Alice Domar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School |
Powerful support with impressive results
Trying to get pregnant year after year without success is stressful. In fact, one recent study showed that half of the women starting in-vitro fertilization treatment had symptoms of mild depression. Many people learn to live with stress and emotional difficulty as a fact of life. When stress and unhappiness grows in one’s life gradually, it is easy to minimize its impact on one’s well-being and not see the toll that it takes.
Emerging research is suggesting a relationship between stress—which includes feelings of anxiety, anger and depression—and unsuccessful in-vitro fertilization outcomes. In one recent study, women who reported the least distress on the day of their IVF egg retrieval were nearly twice as likely to give birth than women who were the most distressed. Another study showed that IVF patients who were depressed were half as likely to have successful outcomes as those who were not depressed.
Although more research needs to be done to validate a connection between stress and IVF outcomes, it may be wise to do all you can to feel healthy in mind, body and spirit as you go through treatment. Here at the clinic, we offer an intensive mind-body program to support your well-being and reproductive health. In this program you will learn and practice skills for stress reduction and deep relaxation, easing distressing thoughts and feelings, cultivating reproductive health, and fostering an integrated sense of vitality and well-being.
Most participants in the Mind-Body Program for Fertility Patients at Kaiser have reported very significant reductions in overall psychological distress. And, 70% of women starting the program with symptoms of depression reported their symptoms dropped by 50% or more. Pregnancy rates for participants in the program [mostly fertility patients not using IVF] have been sharply higher than those reported in studies of women receiving standard medical treatment alone.
Read more about mind-body programs and fertility in a 2004 Newsweek magazine article. For an up-to-date review of research go to www.femalepatient.com/html/arc/sig/comp/articles/030_07_024.asp.
Nearly all participants have reported feeling very satisfied to extremely satisfied with the experience!
Programs are held in Fremont and Santa Clara. For more information call (510) 248-6900 or
(408) 366-4284.
