title: Decrease in cell free DNA levels following participation in stress reduction techniques among women undergoing infertility treatment.
abstract: This pilot study examined differences in plasma cell free DNA (CFD) levels based on practice of stress reduction techniques among 14 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) treatment who had higher than normal levels of plasma CFD before beginning IVF treatment. Wilcoxon nonparametric tests were used to examine the significance of the rate of decline in CFD levels between the time points in each of the groups. A paired sample t-test examined the changes in CFD levels among each participant in each of the groups separately. We found that women who engaged in these techniques had reduced plasma CFD, below what is considered elevated in comparison to those who did not practice. High plasma CFD levels have been associated with IVF failure. Stress reduction techniques may facilitate physiological changes that lead to the reduction of plasma CFD levels.
authors.affiliation: Center for Women's Health Studies and Promotion, the Spitzer Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel, 84105, johannac@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czamanski-Cohen
authors.forename: Orly
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sarid
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cwikel
authors.forename: Eliahu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levitas
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lunenfeld
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Douvdevani
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Har-Vardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA