The placebo response of subfertile couples to attending a tertiary referral centre.
The objective of this study was to determine whether there was a placebo response to clinic attendance in couples with prolonged (greater than 4 years) subfertility. From 4 to 18 years of subfertility we observed a treatment independent cumulative conception rate of 22%, which was independent of the length of subfertility. Twenty-seven women conceived after 1 to 4 years' subfertility, and 30 conceived after greater than 4 years' subfertility. The fecundity of the latter group was significantly greater than that of women with 1 to 4 years' subfertility, being similar to "normal" subjects who had stopped contraception. This study demonstrates that a subgroup of apparently normal women with greater than 4 years' subfertility responded positively to clinic attendance independent of any investigation(s) or therapy.
Dunphy
B C
BC
Harris Birthright Research Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Jessop Hospital for Women, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Kay
R
R
Robinson
J N
JN
Cooke
I D
ID
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D012017:Referral and Consultation
D010919:Placebos