One of those Choice Mom-friendly advisers is Pulling Down the Moon, which talked with us at our Chicago event (you can hear their four specialists on the "Choosing Single Motherhood" radio show here). The study out of Denmark (2009) basically says use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is associated with a 30% lower ongoing pregnancy/live birth rate during 12 months of fertility treatment. Here is how Beth Heller and Tami Quinn replied:

"We discussed this research (The Denmark Study) with one of our doctor partners to get an opinion. The response was something we hear from many of our doctor partners, 'If we could just keep people in treatment for longer periods of time, success rates would be higher.' Beyond the financial burden, research published by Fertility and Sterility in 2004 says the number one reason women drop out of three insurance-paid IVF cycles is due to stress.

It seems unarguable that CAM services such as yoga, breathing, meditation, exercise, reiki, reflexology, acupuncture, massage (the list goes on) or even prayer can help alleviate anxiety and tension and reduce cortisol, the primary stress hormone in the body. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has said that there isn’t conclusive evidence that stress causes infertility; however, infertility can cause stress. Consider the following points with regard to the Denmark study:

• All CAM therapies were grouped together. Other research suggests that acupuncture done before and after embryo transfer can significantly increase conception rates and may improve blood flow to the uterus. Research shows that lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise (both CAM therapies) resulted in higher pregnancy rates than with medical treatment using clomiphene and metformin in patients with PCOS.
• Who is delivering CAM services in the study? The importance of using qualified, licensed practitioners who are experts in the area of fertility intervention cannot be overlooked.
• Some women may have gotten pregnant using CAM therapies and, therefore, did not show up at their doctors’ office for medical treatment, thus excluding these women from the questionnaire used in the study.
• The statement is made in the study that CAM services should be monitored. At Pulling Down the Moon we use the phrase Integrative Care for Fertility. It does not imply that you choose either the medical route or the holistic route. You choose both and integrate them into your treatment. Your medical doctor knows exactly what you are doing holistically and your practitioner knows exactly what you are doing medically. That, we believe, is the future of health care in our society.

Many of the wonderful, high-tech fertility options like IVF, PGD, IUI, and hormonal treatments come with a high price tag. Isn’t it common sense that we should be educating our patients on the efficacy of lifestyle interventions that control stress, high body mass, and other conditions potentially detrimental to fertility? This is why working together with the medical community in educating patients about all kinds of options becomes a cost-saving and wellness-enhancing proposition."

Footnote: Denmark Study is J. Boivin and L. Schmidt, Human Reproduction 2009 24(7):1626-1631

See below a downloadable PDF that includes a formal response to the study from the American Board Of Oriental Reproductive Medicine.