[Patient satisfaction regarding hypnosis-assisted oocyte retrieval under local anesthesia]

To evaluate the satisfaction of patients accompanied by hypnosis during oocyte retrieval under local anesthesia.

This cohort study included patients undergoing oocyte retrieval under local anesthesia with hypnotic support provided either by a hypnotherapist or via a virtual reality headset between November 2022 and November 2023. A questionnaire was distributed after the procedure, assessing satisfaction with hypnosis for pain and anxiety management, as well as the experience of pain (visual analog scale) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) during the procedure. Incomplete questionnaires and non-French-speaking patients were excluded from the analysis. The two methods of hypnosis were compared.

Out of 600 eligible women, 209 (34.8%) were included (mean age : 34.4±4.1 years). Hypnosis was conducted by a hypnotherapist for 167 patients (79.9%) and via a virtual reality headset for 42 patients (20.1%). Satisfaction with pain management was reported by 73.7% of the participants, and with anxiety management by 86.1%. Significantly more women found hypnosis beneficial for anxiety in the hypnotherapist group compared to the virtual reality group (148/167 [88.6%] versus 32/42 [76.2%], P=0.04). The mean visual analog scale score was 5.3±2.6, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory score during the oocyte retrieval was 36.7±17.8. No significant differences were found between the two groups for these scores.

Women who received hypnosis during oocyte retrieval under local anesthesia were generally satisfied with this support, finding it beneficial for pain and anxiety management. Further research is needed to optimize the patient experience during this stressful procedure.