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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Perspectives of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners in the support and treatment of infertility

Authors: Erin O’Reilly, Marika Sevigny, Kelley-Anne Sabarre, Karen P Phillips

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Infertility patients are increasingly using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to supplement or replace conventional fertility treatments. The objective of this study was to determine the roles of CAM practitioners in the support and treatment of infertility.

Methods

Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted in Ottawa, Canada in 2011 with CAM practitioners who specialized in naturopathy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, hypnotherapy and integrated medicine.

Results

CAM practitioners played an active role in both treatment and support of infertility, using a holistic, interdisciplinary and individualized approach. CAM practitioners recognized biological but also environmental and psychosomatic determinants of infertility. Participants were receptive to working with physicians, however little collaboration was described.

Conclusions

Integrated infertility patient care through both collaboration with CAM practitioners and incorporation of CAM’s holistic, individualized and interdisciplinary approaches would greatly benefit infertility patients.
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Metadata
Title
Perspectives of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners in the support and treatment of infertility
Authors
Erin O’Reilly
Marika Sevigny
Kelley-Anne Sabarre
Karen P Phillips
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-394

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