Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

Use of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Turkish women for infertility enhancement: a descriptive study

Authors: Tamer Edirne, Secil Gunher Arica, Sebahat Gucuk, Recep Yildizhan, Ali Kolusari, Ertan Adali, Muhammet Can

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2010

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Infertility patients are a vulnerable group that often seeks a non-medical solution for their failure to conceive. World-wide, women use CAM for productive health, but only a limited number of studies report on CAM use to enhance fertility. Little is known about traditional and religious forms of therapies that are used in relation to conventional medicine in Turkey. We investigated the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by infertile Turkish women for fertility enhancement.

Methods

A face-to-face questionnaire inquiring demographic information and types of CAM used for fertility enhancement were completed by hundred infertility patients admitted to a primary care family planning centre in Van, Turkey between January and July 2009.

Results

The vast majority of infertile women had used CAM at least once for infertility. CAM use included religious interventions, herbal products and recommendations of traditional "hodja's" (faith healers). Of these women, 87.8% were abused in the last 12 months, 36.6% felt not being supported by her partner and 80.5% had never spoken with a physician about CAM.

Conclusions

Infertile Turkish women use complementary medicine frequently for fertility enhancement and are in need of information about CAM. Religious and traditional therapies are used as an adjunct to, rather than a substitute for, conventional medical therapy. Physicians need to approach fertility patients with sensitivity and should be able to council their patients about CAM accordingly.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Joos S, Musselmann B, Miksch A, Rosemann T, Szecenyi J: The role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Germany- A focus group study of GPs. BMC Health Serv Res. 2008, 8: 127-10.1186/1472-6963-8-127.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
2.
Upchurch D, Chyu L: Use of complementary and alternative medicine among American women. Women's Health Issues. 2005, 15: 5-13. 10.1016/j.whi.2004.08.010.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Hanssen B, Grimsgaard S, Launso L, Fonnebo V, Falkenberg T, Rasmussen N: Use of complementary and alternative medicine in the Scandinavian countries. Scand J Prim Health. 2005, 23: 57-62. 10.1080/02813430510018419.CrossRef
4.
McFarland B, Bigelow D, Zani B, Newsom J, Kaplan M: Complementary and alternative medicine use in Canada and the United States. Am J Public Health. 2002, 92: 1616-618. 10.2105/AJPH.92.10.1616.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
5.
Nahin R, Barnes P, Stussman B, Bloom B: Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Frequency of Visits to CAM Practitioners: United States, 2007. 2009, Hyattsville MD, National Centre for Health Statistics
6.
Lin V, Bensoussan A, Myers S, McCabe M, Cohen M, Hill S, Howse G: The practice and regulatory requirements of naturopathy and western herbal medicine. 2005, Bundoora, La Trobe University
7.
Gratus C, Wilson S, Greenfield S, Damery S, Warmington S, Grieve R, Steven N, Routledge P: The use of herbal medicines by people with cancer: a qualitative study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009, 9: 14-10.1186/1472-6882-9-14.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Artus M, Croft P, Lewis M: The use of CAM and conventional treatments among primary care consulters with chronic musculoskeletal pain. BMC Fam Pract. 2007, 8: 26-10.1186/1471-2296-8-26.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Wapf V, Busato A: Patients' motives for choosing a physician: comparison between conventional and complementary medicine in Swiss primary care. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007, 7: 41-10.1186/1472-6882-7-41.CrossRefPubMedCentral
10.
Sirois F: Motivations for consulting complementary and alternative medicine practitioners: A comparison of consumers from 1997-8 and 2005. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2008, 8: 16-10.1186/1472-6882-8-16.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Boon H, Olatunde F, Zick S: Trends in complementary/alternative medicine use by breast cancer survivors: Comparing survey data from 1998 and 2005. BMC Womens Health. 2007, 7: 4-10.1186/1472-6874-7-4.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Tindle H, Davis R, Phillips R, Eisenberg D: Trends in use of complementary and alternative medicine by US adults: 1997-2002. Altern Ther Health Med. 2005, 11: 42-9.PubMed
13.
Bishop F, Yardely L, Lewith G: Developing a measure of treatments beliefs: the complementary and alternative medicine beliefs inventory. omplement Ther Med. 2005, 13: C144-49. 10.1016/j.ctim.2005.01.005.CrossRef
14.
Vickers K, Jolly K, Greenfield S: Herbal medicine: women's knowledge and interaction with doctors: a qualitative study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2006, 6: 40-10.1186/1472-6882-6-40.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
15.
Azaizeh H, Saad B, Cooper E, Said O: Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine, a Re-emerging Health Aid. eCAM. 2008,
16.
Shaikh BT, Hatcher J: Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Pakistan: Prospects and Limitations. eCAM. 2005, 2 (2): 139-142.PubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Abu-Irmaileh BE, Afifi FU: Herbal medicine in Jordan with special emphasis on commonly used herbs. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003, 89: 193-7. 10.1016/S0378-8741(03)00283-6.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Hori S, Mihaylov I, Vasconcelos J, McCoubrie M: Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use amongst outpatients in Tokyo, Japan. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2008, 8: 14-10.1186/1472-6882-8-14.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Xue C, Zhang A, Lin V, Da Costa C, Story D: Complementary and alternative medicine use in Australia: A National population based survey. J Altern Complement Med. 2007, 13: 643-50. 10.1089/acm.2006.6355.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Vickers K, Jolly K, Greenfield S: Herbal medicine: women's knowledge and interaction with doctors: a qualitative study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2006, 6: 40-10.1186/1472-6882-6-40.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Gözüm S, Tezel A, Koc M: Complementary Alternative Treatments Used by Patients With Cancer in Eastern Turkey. Cancer Nursing. 2003, 26: 230-36. 10.1097/00002820-200306000-00010.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Lapi F, Vannacci A, Moschini M, Cipollini F, Morsuillo M, Gallo E: Use, attitudes and knowledge of complementary and alternative drugs [CADs] among pregnant women: a preliminary survey in Tuscany. eCAM. 2008,
23.
Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, Haramati A, Langenberg P, Berman B: Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2008, 336: 545-49. 10.1136/bmj.39471.430451.BE.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
Skouteris H, Wertheim E, Rallis S, Paxton S: Use of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Australian women during pregnancy. Aust N Z J Obstet. 2008, 48: 384-90. 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2008.00865.x.CrossRef
25.
Anderson FW, Johnson CT: Complementary and alternative medicine in obstetrics. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2005, 91: 116-24. 10.1016/j.ijgo.2005.07.009.CrossRef
26.
Gaffney L, Smith C: The views of pregnant women towards the use of complementary therapies and medicines. Birth Issues. 2004, 13: 43-50.
27.
Dooley M: Complementary therapy and obstetrics and gynecology: a time to integrate. Curr Opin Obstet Gynaecol. 2006, 18: 648-52. 10.1097/GCO.0b013e3280105edc.CrossRef
28.
Aydin S, Bozyaka AO, Mazicioglu M, Gemalmaz A, Ozcakir A, Ozturk A: What influences herbal medicine use? -prevalence and related factors. Turk J Med Sci. 2008, 38: 455-63.
29.
Tan M, Uzun O, Akcay F: Trends in Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Eastern Turkey. J Altern Complement Med. 2004, 10: 861-65.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Kav S, Hanoglu Z, Algier L: Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Cancer Patients in Turkey: A Literature Review (In Turkish). International Journal of Hematology and Oncology. 2008, 18: 32-8.
31.
Rehder A: Manual of cultivated trees and shrubs in North America. 1940, Macmillan, New York, 996-2
32.
Roudsari RL, Allan HT, Smith PA: Looking at infertility through the lens of religion and spirituality: A review of the literature. Hum Fertil. 2007, 10: 141-49. 10.1080/14647270601182677.CrossRef
33.
Renckens CNM: Alternative treatments in reproductive medicine: much ado about nothing. Hum Reprod. 2002, 17: 528-33. 10.1093/humrep/17.3.528.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Araz A, Harlak H, Mese G: Health behaviors and alternative medicine use (In Turkish). TAF Prev Med Bull. 2007, 6: 112-22.
35.
Montazeri A, Sajadian A, Ebrahimi M, Akbari ME: Depression and the use of complementary medicine among breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2005, 13: 339-42. 10.1007/s00520-004-0709-z.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Ni H, Simile C, Hardy AM: Utilization of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by United States Adults. Results from the 1999 National Health Interview Survey Medical Care. 2002, 40: 353-58.PubMed
37.
Avci G, Kupeli E, Eryavuz A, Yesilada E, Kucukkurt I: Antihypercholesterolaemic and antioxidant activity assessment of some plants used as remedy in Turkish folk medicine. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006, 107: 418-23. 10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.032.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Helms S, Miller AL: Natural treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. Altern Med Rev. 2006, 11: 196-207.PubMed
39.
Safarinejad MR: Urtica dioica for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. J Herb Pharmacother. 2005, 5: 1-11. 10.1300/J157v05n04_01.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Gulcin I, Kufrevioglu OI, Oktay M, Buyukokuroglu ME: Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.). J Ethnopharmacol. 2004, 90: 205-15. 10.1016/j.jep.2003.09.028.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Chrubasik JE, Roufogalis BD, Wagner H, Chrubasik S: A comprehensive review on the stinging nettle effect and efficacy profiles. Part II: Urticae radix. Phytomedicine. 2007, 14: 568-79. 10.1016/j.phymed.2007.03.014.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Thami GP, Sarkar R: Coal tar: past, present and future. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2002, 27: 99-103. 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.00995.x.CrossRefPubMed
43.
44.
Silverman A, Menter A, Hairston JL: Tars and anthralins. Dermatol Clin. 1995, 13: 817-33.PubMed
45.
Cakici I, Ulug HY, Inci S, Tunctan B, Abacioglu N, Kanzik I: Antinociceptive effect of some amaryllidaceae plants in mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1997, 49: 828-30.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Svangard E, Göransson U, Hocaoglu Z, Gullbo J, Larsson R, Claeson P: Cytotoxic Cyclotides from Viola tricolour. Journal of Natural Products. 2004, 67: 144-47. 10.1021/np030101l.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Widge A: Seeking conception: Experiences of urban Indian women with in vitro fertilization. Patient Educ Couns. 2005, 59: 226-33. 10.1016/j.pec.2005.07.014.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Nene AU, Coyaji K, Apte H: Infertility- A label of choice in the case of sexually dysfunctional couples. Patient Educ Couns. 2005, 59: 234-38. 10.1016/j.pec.2005.08.005.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Gulseren L, Cetinay P, Tokatlioglu B, Sarikaya OO, Gulseren S, Kurt S: Depression and anxiety levels in infertile Turkish women. J Reprod Med. 2006, 51: 421-26.PubMed
50.
Guz H, Ozkan A, Sarisoy G, Yanik F, Yanik A: Psychiatric symptoms in Turkish infertile women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2003, 24: 267-71. 10.3109/01674820309074691.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Upkong D, Orji E: Mental Health of Infertile Women in Nigeria (In Turkish). Turk Psikiyatri Derg. 2006, 17: 259-65.PubMed
52.
Benyamini Y, Gozlan M, Kokia E: Variability in the difficulties experienced by women undergoing infertility treatments. Fertil Steril. 2005, 83: 275-83. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.10.014.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Dyer SJ, Abrahams N, Hoffman M, Spuy van der ZM: Infertility in South Africa: Women's reproductive health knowledge and treatment-seeking behaviour for involuntary childlessness. Hum Reprod. 2002, 17: 1657-662. 10.1093/humrep/17.6.1657.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Inhorn MC: Global infertility and the globalisation of new reproductive technologies: Illustrations from Egypt. Soc Sci Med. 2003, 56: 1837-851. 10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00208-3.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Fido A, Zahid MA: Coping with infertility among Kuwaiti women: Cultural perspectives. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2004, 50: 294-300. 10.1177/0020764004050334.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Ozcakir A, Sadikoglu G, Bayram N, Mazicioglu MM, Bilgel N, Beyhan I: Turkish General Practitioners and Complementary/Alternative Medicine. J Altern Complement Med. 2007, 13: 1007-010. 10.1089/acm.2007.7168.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Kocacik F, Kutlar A, Erselcan F: Domestic violence against women: A field study in Turkey. The Social Science Journal. 2007, 44: 698-720. 10.1016/j.soscij.2007.10.016.CrossRef
58.
Ayrancý U, Gunay Y, Unluoglu I: Spouse violence during pregnancy: a research among women attending to primary health care (In Turkish). Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi. 2002, 3: 75-87.
59.
Yildizhan R, Adali E, Kolusari A, Kurdoglu M, Yildizhan B, Sahin G: Domestic violence against infertile women in a Turkish setting. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009, 104: 110-12. 10.1016/j.ijgo.2008.10.007.CrossRefPubMed
60.
Sahin HA, Sahin GH: An undressed issue: domestic violence and unplanned pregnancies among pregnant women in Turkey. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2003, 8: 93-8.CrossRefPubMed
61.
Matsubayashi H, Hosaka T, Izumi S, Suzuki T, Kondo A, Makino T: Increased depression and anxiety in infertile Japanese women resulting from lack of husband's support and feelings of stress. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2004, 26: 398-404. 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2004.05.002.CrossRefPubMed
62.
Dyer SJ, Abrahams N, Hoffman M, Spuy van der ZM: Men leave me as I cannot have children: women's experiences with involuntary childlessness. Hum Reprod. 2002, 17: 1663-668. 10.1093/humrep/17.6.1663.CrossRefPubMed
63.
Rhodes PJ, Small N, Ismail H, Wright JP: The use of biomedicine, complementary and alternative medicine, and ethnomedicine for the treatment of epilepsy among people of South Asian origin in the UK. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2008, 8: 7-10.1186/1472-6882-8-7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
64.
Rayner J, Helen L, McLachlan H, Forster DA, Cramer R: Australian women's use of complementary and alternative medicines to enhance fertility: exploring the experiences of women and practitioners. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009, 9: 52-10.1186/1472-6882-9-52.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Use of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Turkish women for infertility enhancement: a descriptive study
Authors
Tamer Edirne
Secil Gunher Arica
Sebahat Gucuk
Recep Yildizhan
Ali Kolusari
Ertan Adali
Muhammet Can
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-10-11

Other articles of this Issue 1/2010

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2010 Go to the issue

Research article

An evaluation of the hypolipidemic effect of an extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa leaves in hyperlipidemic Indians: a double blind, placebo controlled trial

Research article

A pilot study on the effects of a team building process on the perception of work environment in an integrative hospital for neurological rehabilitation

Research article

Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review

Research article

Clinical trial: probiotic treatment of acute distal ulcerative colitis with rectally administered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN)

Research article

Comparison of the antimicrobial activity of Ulmo honey from Chile and Manuka honey against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Study protocol

Ankle manual therapy for individuals with post-acute ankle sprains: description of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial