In-vitro fertilisation success rate improved by hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can significantly improve the success rate of in-vitro fertilisation treatment according to recent research in Israel. Scientists at Soroka University in Beer-Sheva claimed a woman's chances of becoming pregnant through IVF may be double by the use of hypnosis. Their evidence was presented to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 2004 annual conference in Berlin by the leader of the Soroka team, Dr Elihu Levitas. A group of 185 women, all aged about 32-years-old, undergoing embryo transplants, were split into two groups. The smaller group of 89 women werehypnotised to help them relax during the usually stressful transplant procedure while the other group of 96 women were not hypnotised. The Soroka team found that 28 per cent of the hypnotised women became pregnant compared to just over 14 per cent of the unhypnotised group. In the United Kingdom the expected success rate for IVF believed to be about 25 per cent. Dr Levitas told the Berlin conference approximately the same number of eggs was obtained for IVF and the same kind of ovarian stimulation was given to both of his groups. The reason for the higher success rate amongst the hypnotised group of woman he suggested was due to the tranquillising effect of hypnosis reducing stress. He admitted however there might be practical problems in offering hypnotherapy routinely to women undergoing IVF treatment. A leading British expert, Dr Francoise Shenfield from University College Hospital raised doubts about the claims. Head of ESHRE's ethics, pointed out that the women who were not hypnotised had been trying to conceive for almost twice as long as those in the hypnotised group. That was important because it has been established that the longer a woman attempts to become pregnant the less likely her chances of success, either naturally or through IVF. Nevertheless Dr Shenfield believed further investigations of relaxation techniques during the embryo transfer stage of IVF should be considered. For she said: "It does make some physiological sense that being more relaxed can improve ease of [embryo] transfer." Posted August 2004

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