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Can complementary/alternative medicine be used to treat infertility?
1Old Dominion University, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Norfolk, VA, USA. lbenning@odu.edu
MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|May 11, 2010
Summary
Millions of women face infertility. This article reviews complementary alternative medicine (CAM) for infertility, assessing evidence-based efficacy and potential risks for patients seeking fertility treatments.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Integrative Medicine
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Infertility impacts over 7.3 million American women.
- Traditional fertility treatments are not always successful.
- Patients may explore complementary alternative medicine (CAM) for infertility, necessitating an evaluation of its legitimacy and efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine various CAM treatments for infertility.
- To assess the scientific evidence for CAM efficacy in fertility.
- To provide information for nursing interventions supporting infertile couples.
Main Methods:
- Categorization of CAM into five NIH domains: whole medical systems, mind-body medicine, biologically based practices, manipulative and body-based practices, and energy medicine.
- Review of scientific literature on the efficacy of CAM procedures.
- Correlation of CAM efficacy data with fertility outcomes.
Main Results:
- Each of the five CAM domains is defined and discussed.
- Scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of specific CAM interventions for infertility is presented.
- The relationship between CAM practices and fertility outcomes is analyzed.
Conclusions:
- A critical assessment of CAM for infertility is necessary due to potential exploitation.
- Understanding the evidence base for CAM is crucial for guiding patient care.
- Nursing interventions should be informed by evidence to support infertile couples effectively.
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