title: The effect of using complementary medicine on the infertility-specific quality of life of women undergoing in vitro fertilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate associations between the use of complementary medicine, quality of life (QoL), and lifestyle habits among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, women aged 18-44 years undergoing an IVF cycle at a large IVF center in Israel between February 1, 2013 and April 30, 2015 were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Patients who reported using of at least one complementary medicine intervention to treat infertility prior to IVF treatment were considered complementary-medicine users. Fertility QoL and lifestyle behaviors were compared between complementary-medicine users and non-users with the FertiQoL tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 381 patients eligible to participate in the study, 323 completed the questionnaire; 110 (34.1%) participants were complementary-medicine users. Complementary-medicine users demonstrated higher scores for the FertiQol relational domain (P=0.005) and lower scores for the social domain (P=0.010). Complementary-medicine users reported greater utilization of psychosocial support (P<0.001), and higher rates of physical activity (P=0.004) and consulting with dietitians (P=0.050).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Users of complementary medicine reported increased relational and lower social QoL, increased use of psychosocial support, and favorable healthy-lifestyle habits. Actively inquiring about the lifestyle habits and QoL of patients experiencing infertility could be useful in identifying patients who could benefit from psychosocial interventions or lifestyle recommendations.
authors: Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health, Jerusalem, Israel; IVF unit, Assuta Medical Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel. Electronic address: nati.porat@gmail.com.
authors: Anat
authors: A
authors: Porat-Katz
authors: Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Ora
authors: O
authors: Paltiel
authors: IVF unit, Assuta Medical Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
authors: Arik
authors: A
authors: Kahane
authors: IVF unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Talia
authors: T
authors: Eldar-Geva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D007557:Israel; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Complementary medicine; FertiQoL; IVF; Lifestyle behaviors; Quality of life