Impact of a group mind/body intervention on pregnancy rates in IVF patients

Objective: To determine if women who were randomized to a mind/body program before starting their first IVF cycle would have higher pregnancy rates than control subjects. Design: Randomized, controlled, prospective study. Setting: Private academically affiliated infertility center. Patient(s): A total of 143 women aged <= 40 years who were about to begin their first IVF cycle. Intervention(s): Subjects were randomized to a ten-session mind/body program (MB) or a control group and followed for two IVF cycles. Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical pregnancy rate. Result(s): Only 9% of the MB participants had attended at least one-half of their sessions at cycle 1 start. Pregnancy rates for cycle 1 were 43% for all subjects; 76% of the MB subjects had attended at least one-half of their sessions at cycle 2 start. Pregnancy rates for cycle 2 were 52% for MB and 20% for control. Conclusion(s): MB participation was associated with increased pregnancy rates for cycle 2, prior to which most subjects had attended at least half of their sessions. (Fertil Steril (R) 2011;95:2269-73. (C)2011 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)