Use of Virtual Reality Medical Hypnosis for Anxiolytic Purposes During Frozen Embryo Transfer

Summary

Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) procedures are often long and particularly stressful for couples. The level of anxiety appears to persist throughout the entire process, particularly during embryo transfer, a pivotal and delicate stage in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Many women apprehend this maneuver, firstly, as it represents the culmination of the process and consequently elicits apprehensions regarding negative outcome, and secondly, as it instigates anxiety related to potential discomfort during the procedure.

Medical Hypnosis in Virtual Reality is a combination of hypnotherapy and immersion in a fictitious world, used in the medical field for anxiolytic and analgesic purposes. This fusion is made possible by a virtual reality headset coupled with an auditory device.

The diversion and relaxation conferred by this device can lead to a reduction in perceived anxiety and an indirect enhancement of compliance and cooperation during medical procedure. Several studies have already demonstrated a benefit on pre-operative and peri-operative anxiety, with reassuring safety data on the use of this medical device.

However, despite the common use of VRH in the medical field, encouraging data on anxiety reduction, and accessibility to these headsets within in certain ART departments, they are not routinely employed during embryo transfers. Various barriers to the implementation of this medical device in this indication seem to be present, encompassing organizational, technical, and practical aspects.

Consequently, the Hypno-TEC study aims to assess the feasibility of using virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) headset for anxiolytic purposes during frozen embryo transfer (FET).

Hypno-TEC will be a prospective interventional study, not comparative, and conducted at a single center, within the Reproductive Medicine Department of the Mother-Child-Woman Hospital in Lyon. This clinical investigation will fall under category 4.2 of medical device regulations, according to European Regulation 2017/745.

The enrolled patients, estimated to be 50 in number, will benefit from the device (VRH headset) during the execution of the FET procedure.

Besides assessing the feasibility of this usage, secondary outcomes will include: (i) evaluating the procedure's acceptability, (ii) patient and caregiver satisfaction with this application, (iii) effect on patient anxiety, and (iv) the pregnancy rates following the transfers concerned by the study.

The expected benefit is the potential to incorporate these headsets into routine practice, thereby would be enhancing patient adherence and tolerance to the transfer procedure.

Conditions

• Anxiety

Interventions

DEVICE

Use of virtual reality hypnosis headset during frozen embryo transfer

The virtual reality hypnosis headset will be used before, during, and after the FET procedure: * The headset will be put on 5 minutes prior to the procedure, allowing time for immersion in the virtual world. * The headset will be kept on throughout the entire procedure (procedure duration less than 5 minutes). * The headset will be worn for up to 5 minutes after the procedure. The patient will be free to choose her own auditory and visual scenario for the session. Prior to the procedure and the device setup, the patient will be asked to complete a self-assessment anxiety questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. This self-assessment questionnaire is a validated and standardized tool designed to measure temporary "state" anxiety related to a specific situation (in this case, the embryo transfer). After the procedure, the patient will need to complete the questionnaire again, along with another set of questions specifically designed for our study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospices Civils de Lyon

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-12-13

Primary Completion

2024-05-24

Completion

2024-05-24

Countries

• France

Study Locations