Stress and Fertility: How to Lower Stress When Trying to Conceive

Summary

Psychological stress and its sources differ among the population and can be reduced in various ways. The practice of yoga has been shown to be an effective stress reducing agent. IVF processes have also been shown to increase stress levels, particularly in patients with multiple failed IVF cycles. Less is known about stress levels in patients undergoing elective egg freezing for fertility preservation. The investigators demonstrated in a pilot project that yoga postures with a yoga focused discussion session decreases stress in infertility patients compared to controls. The goal of this study is to further explore the capability of yoga practice to reduce stress in a specific subset of infertility patients, those with a history of at least one failed IVF cycle and those undergoing elective oocyte cryopreservation. Additionally, the investigators are aiming to understand which aspect of the intervention (discussion vs. yoga) had the most impact and whether route of administration of the intervention (in person vs online) effects results.

Conditions

• Anxiety
• Infertility, Female

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

In-person yoga for fertility group

The participants in this group will complete the Yoga for Fertility class at Pulling Down the Moon: An Integrative Center for Fertility. This consists of a 30 minute discussion session followed by a 60 minute Vinyasa style yoga class one time a week for a total of 6 weeks. Participants must attend at least 5 out of the 6 sessions to be included in the analysis.

BEHAVIORAL

Online yoga for fertility group

The participants in this group will complete an online webinar of the Yoga for Fertility class and engage in a home yoga practice with the Pulling Down the Moon Yoga DVD. This will occur one time a week for a total of 6 weeks. Participants must complete at least 5 out of the 6 sessions to be included in the analysis.

BEHAVIORAL

In person discussion only group

The participants in this group will attend an in-person 30 minute discussion session at Pulling Down the Moon. This will occur one time a week for a total of 6 weeks. Participants must complete at least 5 out of the 6 sessions to be included in the analysis.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pulling Down the Moon, Holistic Health

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Rush University Medical Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Fertility Centers of Illinois

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jennifer Hirshfeld, MD · Fertility Centers of Illinois

• Anne E Martini, DO · Rush University Medical Center

• Beth Heller, MS · Pulling Down the Moon, Holistic Health

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

24 Years

Max Age

42 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-01-31

Primary Completion

2017-03-31

Completion

2017-04-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations