No abstract

Background: Anxiety has been shown to worsen over time during infertility treatment. The psychological burden of treatment itself can lead to patient drop out. Yoga has been used as a stress reliever in other areas of health care. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess whether a structured yoga intervention can decrease anxiety levels measured by the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in patients with infertility. Study design: A prospective feasibility study was conducted. One hundred eleven participants undergoing infertility treatment at a large infertility practice were recruited and enrolled. All subjects self-selected to participate in the control group or the yoga group and completed the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory at baseline and at a six week follow up. Seventy-nine participants completed both time points. "State" and "trait" anxiety scores were compared between the control and yoga groups. Paired t-tests and multivariate logistics regression were performed for statistical analysis via the SPSS software. Results: Mean state and trait anxiety scores were significantly lower in the yoga group versus the control group (p<0.014 and p<0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Mean state and trait anxiety levels were significantly lower after a structured six week yoga intervention in patients with infertility. These results suggest that yoga may have a beneficial role in reducing anxiety in patients with infertility. Ideally this may translate to decreased drop out and increased ability for patients to be successful.

OBJECTIVE: IVF's ethical and medical considerations make informed consent (IC) difficult, including forms' length, jargon, and physicians' informational duties. We assessed patients' IC experiences and perceptions.DESIGN: Quantitative online survey MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey obtaining responses through forums, listservs, and blogs from patients undergoing autologous IVF in the past 5 years. Questions evaluated consistency in IC administration, patient perceptions regarding IC importance, redundancy, protections, and effects on treatment relationships. Data were grouped and analyzed based on age and primary income.RESULTS: 267 subjects, age 22-50, responded; 90% (216) were Caucasian and 56% (136) were %35 yrs, 30% (72) were 36-40 yrs, and 14% (35) were >40 yrs. IC was signed before IVF as a separate (85%) or single (15%) document, upon receipt (77%) or later (23%), where 82% signed before a required witness. Two-thirds read the entire IC, with 18% somewhat carefully and 35% very carefully. However, 36% found it something to get out of the way, 8% difficult and confusing, 93% too long, 27% overwhelming, and 18% unhelpful. But while 39% asked questions, 12% requested changes to forms, and 9% tried negotiating changes, 41% didn't discuss IC with medical staff. Physicians agreed to consent form changes only 8% of the time. Patients reported discussing selective reduction more often in those %35 yrs (87%) vs. 36-40 yrs and >40 yrs (76% and 69%, p¼0.02). Those >40 yrs were less likely to read embryo disposition consents (25% vs. 5% and 5%, p<0.001, respectively). Those making <100K/yr were more likely to read the IC very carefully (51%) and less likely to view IC as something to get out of the way (36%) vs. those making 100k-125k/yr and >125k/yr (34%, and 43%, p<0.05, and 63% and 58%, p<0.001).CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest IC information is not always consistently disseminated among patients and that medical and legal safeguards may be suboptimally balanced with comprehensibility and thoroughness. Reconsidering classic approaches to IC may improve patients' understanding and experiences.

No abstract