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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Evidence for the use of complementary and alternative medicines during fertility treatment: a scoping review

Authors: Skye A. Miner, Stephanie Robins, Yu Jia Zhu, Kathelijne Keeren, Vivian Gu, Suzanne C. Read, Phyllis Zelkowitz

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are sometimes used by individuals who desire to improve the outcomes of their fertility treatment and/or mental health during fertility treatment. However, there is little comprehensive information available that analyzes various CAM methods across treatment outcomes and includes information that is published in languages other than English.

Method

This scoping review examines the evidence for 12 different CAM methods used to improve female and male fertility outcomes as well as their association with improving mental health outcomes during fertility treatment. Using predefined key words, online medical databases were searched for articles (n = 270). After exclusion criteria were applied, 148 articles were analyzed in terms of their level of evidence and the potential for methodological and author bias.

Results

Surveying the literature on a range of techniques, this scoping review finds a lack of high quality evidence that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) improves fertility or mental health outcomes for men or women. Acupuncture has the highest level of evidence for its use in improving male and female fertility outcomes although this evidence is inconclusive.

Conclusion

Overall, the quality of the evidence across CAM methods was poor not only because of the use of research designs that do not yield conclusive results, but also because results were contradictory. There is a need for more research using strong methods such as randomized controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of CAM in relation to fertility treatment, and to help physicians and patients make evidence-based decisions about CAM use during fertility treatment.

Available only for authorised users

Rayner, Willis and Burgess [4] do not provide a definition of how religious intervention and spiritual healing differ. We have listed them as separate types of CAM to reflect the findings that Rayner, Willis and Burgess [4] present.

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Title: Evidence for the use of complementary and alternative medicines during fertility treatment: a scoping review
Authors: Skye A. Miner
Stephanie Robins
Yu Jia Zhu
Kathelijne Keeren
Vivian Gu
Suzanne C. Read
Phyllis Zelkowitz
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2224-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Evidence for the use of complementary and alternative medicines during fertility treatment: a scoping review

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

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