Studies Show Most Patients Use Complementary Alternative Medicines In Conjunction With Fertility Treatments

Main Category: Fertility
Also Included In: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Article Date: 27 Feb 2007 - 10:00 PDT

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Tell your doctor about all the remedies that you take in fertility treatment - including those complementary medicines and therapies - the therapies may interact with each other and could impact on the chances of achieving pregnancy.

Research has shown that some 66% of patients seeking treatment at fertility clinics use complementary medicines and therapies alongside prescribed medication. Most of these patients do not volunteer this information to their doctors.

A paper published by Blackwell Publishing in the April 2007 issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology showed although patients seeking fertility treatment consulted most frequently with naturopaths, chiropractors and acupuncturists when seeking alternative medical therapy, usage of such complementary medicines and therapies are poorly documented by clinical staff.

Lead author Dr. Stankiewicz from the Flinders Reproductive Medicine at the Flinders Medical Centre said, "Most patients using complementary alternative medicines will not inform their fertility specialist, and there is limited research describing the use of complementary medicines and therapies among people seeking infertility treatment."

The lack of adequate studies documenting the safety and efficacy of complementary alternative medicines modalities used to treat infertility or used as an adjunct to treatment, coupled with possibilities that these therapies may interact with each other and impact patients' chances of achieving pregnancy - mean that health care practitioners need to be proactive in acquiring and documenting use of these practices.

Dr. Stankiewicz added, "There is a need to provide further information to patients on the use of complementary medicines and therapies - including further evaluation of the effectiveness of complimentary medicines on pregnancy rates. Improved documentation may contribute to identifying any positive or negative effects it has on fertility outcomes - and may enable health care practitioners in identifying additional patient needs in their quest to achieve pregnancy effectively."

This paper is published in the April 2007 issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

About Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ANZJOG) is an editorially independent publication owned by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the RANZCOG Research foundation. ANZJOG aims to provide a medium for the publication of original contributions to clinical practice and/or research in all fields of obstetrics and gynaecology and related disciplines. Articles are peer reviewed by clinicians or researchers expert in the field of the submitted work.

About Blackwell Publishing

Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with 665 medical, academic, and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. The company employs over 1,000 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Singapore, Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice. The company is in the process of merging with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.'s Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. The acquisition by Wiley should be completed in early February. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com or http://www.blackwell-synergy.com

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