Skip to main content

Biopsychosocial Aspects of Natural Cycle IVF/Minimal Stimulation IVF

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Natural Cycle and Minimal Stimulation IVF
  • 316 Accesses

Abstract

Infertility poses an enormous challenge for many couples, laying an emotional burden upon their well-being comparable to a severe illness. One of the fundamental characteristics of natural cycle IVF (NC-IVF) is the lower stress strain in comparison to conventional gonadotropin stimulated therapies (cIVF). The main IVF treatment goal should be to minimize stress during treatment. According to the antique medical guideline, “primum non nocere, secundum cavere, tertium sanare”—The first being to do no harm, the second to be careful, and the third to cure—soft IVF should be the foremost choice. To take into account the biopsychosocial aspect of infertility even scores of quality of life following treatment should be included into publications of IVF-success rates. An integrative holistic treatment approach can lower treatment stress and promote coping with negative emotional impact of shame and guilt after unsuccessful cycles, reduce drop-out rates and thus boost birth rates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Cousineau TM, Domar AD. Psychological impact of infertility. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2007;21(2):293–308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Verberg MF, et al. Why do couples drop-out from IVF treatment? A prospective cohort study. Hum Reprod. 2008;23(9):2050–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Domar AD, et al. Burden of care is the primary reason why insured women terminate in vitro fertilization treatment. Fertil Steril. 2018;109(6):1121–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Luke B, et al. Cumulative birth rates with linked assisted reproductive technology cycles. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(26):2483–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. De Neubourg D, et al. How do cumulative live birth rates and cumulative multiple live birth rates over complete courses of assisted reproductive technology treatment per woman compare among registries? Hum Reprod. 2016;31(1):93–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Schroder AK, et al. Cumulative pregnancy rates and drop-out rates in a German IVF programme: 4102 cycles in 2130 patients. Reprod Biomed Online. 2004;8(5):600–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Brandes M, et al. The relative contribution of IVF to the total ongoing pregnancy rate in a subfertile cohort. Hum Reprod. 2010;25(1):118–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Olivius K, Friden B, Lundin K, et al. Cumulative probability of live birth after three in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. Fertil Steril. 2002;77(3):505–10

    Google Scholar 

  9. Witsenburg C, Dieben S, Van der Westerlaken L et al. Cumulative live birth rates in cohorts of patients treated with in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fertil Steril. 2005;84:99–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.02.013

  10. Elizur SE, Lerner-Geva L, Levron J, Shulman A, Bider D, Dor J, et al. Cumulative live birth rate following in vitro fertilization: study of 5,310 cycles. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2006;22:25–30

    Google Scholar 

  11. Malizia B, Hacker M, Penzias A. Cumulative live-birth rates after in vitro fertilization. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:236–43

    Google Scholar 

  12. Garrido N, Bellver J, Remohi J, Simon C, Pellicer A. Cumulative live-birth rates per total number of embryos needed to reach newborn in consecutive in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles: a new approach to measuring the likelihood of IVF success. Fertil Steril 2011;96:40–6.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Smith A. et al. Live-birth rate associated with repeat in vitro fertilization treatment cycles. JAMA. 2015;314(24);2654–62.

    Google Scholar 

  14. McLernon D, Steyerberg EW, Egbert R te Velde, 2 Amanda J Lee, 1 Siladitya Bhattacharya. Predicting the chances of a live birth after one or more complete cycles of in vitro fertilisation: population based study of linked cycle data from 113 873 women BMJ. 2016;355:i5735

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gameiro S, et al. Why do patients discontinue fertility treatment? A systematic review of reasons and predictors of discontinuation in fertility treatment. Hum Reprod Update. 2012;18(6):652–69.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Haemmerli Keller K, Alder G, Loewer L, Faeh M, Rohner S, von Wolff M. Treatment-related psychological stress in different in vitro fertilization therapies with and without gonodatropin. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2018;97:269–76.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Chen TH, et al. Prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in an assisted reproductive technique clinic. Hum Reprod. 2004;19(10):2313–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Volgsten H, et al. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in infertile women and men undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment. Hum Reprod. 2008;23(9):2056–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Gameiro S, et al. Women's adjustment trajectories during IVF and impact on mental health 11-17 years later. Hum Reprod. 2016;31(8):1788–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Liebermann C, et al. Maltreatment during childhood: a risk factor for the development of endometriosis? Hum Reprod. 2018;33(8):1449–58.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Demakakos P, Linara-Demakakou E, Mishra GD. Adverse childhood experiences are associated with increased risk of miscarriage in a national population-based cohort study in England. Hum Reprod. 2020;35(6):1451–60.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Ebbesen SMS, Zachariae R, Mehlsen MY, Thomsen D, Hojgaard A, Ottosen L, et al. Stressful life events are associated with a poor in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome: a prospective study. Hum Reprod. 2009;24:2173–82

    Google Scholar 

  23. Dhillon RK, et al. Predicting the chance of live birth for women undergoing IVF: a novel pretreatment counselling tool. Hum Reprod. 2016;31(1):84–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Abe T, et al. Success rates in minimal stimulation cycle IVF with clomiphene citrate only. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020;37(2):297–304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Volgsten H, Svanberg AS, Olsson P. Unresolved grief in women and men in Sweden three years after undergoing unsuccessful in vitro fertilization treatment. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2010;89(10):1290–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Gameiro S, Finnigan A. Long-term adjustment to unmet parenthood goals following ART: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2017;23(3):322–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Gonzalez LO. Infertility as a transformational process: a framework for psychotherapeutic support of infertile women. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2000;21(6):619–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wirtberg I, et al. Life 20 years after unsuccessful infertility treatment. Hum Reprod. 2007;22(2):598–604.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Koert E, Daniluk JC. When time runs out: reconciling permanent childlessness after delayed childbearing. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2017;35(4):342–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Shani C, et al. Suicidal risk among infertile women undergoing in-vitro fertilization: incidence and risk factors. Psychiatry Res. 2016;240:53–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Vikstrom J, et al. Mental health in women 20-23 years after IVF treatment: a Swedish cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2015;5(10):e009426.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Mak W, et al. Natural cycle IVF reduces the risk of low birthweight infants compared with conventional stimulated IVF. Hum Reprod. 2016;31(4):789–94.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Smith JF, et al. The use of complementary and alternative fertility treatment in couples seeking fertility care: data from a prospective cohort in the United States. Fertil Steril. 2010;93(7):2169–74.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Smith CA, Bateson DJ, Weisberg E. A survey describing the use of complementary therapies and medicines by women attending a family planning clinic. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013;13:224.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Domar AD, et al. Lifestyle behaviors in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a prospective study. Fertil Steril. 2012;97(3):697–701 e1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Miner SA, et al. Evidence for the use of complementary and alternative medicines during fertility treatment: a scoping review. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):158.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Huang CW, et al. The utilization of complementary and alternative medicine in Taiwan: an internet survey using an adapted version of the international questionnaire (I-CAM-Q). J Chin Med Assoc. 2019;82(8):665–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Coulson C, Jenkins J. Complementary and alternative medicine utilisation in NHS and private clinic settings: a United Kingdom survey of 400 infertility patients. J Exp Clin Assist Reprod. 2005;2(1):5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Zhang Y, et al. The effect of complementary and alternative medicine on subfertile women with in vitro fertilization. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:419425.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Kong J, et al. Expectancy and treatment interactions: a dissociation between acupuncture analgesia and expectancy evoked placebo analgesia. NeuroImage. 2009;45(3):940–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Zheng CH, et al. Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2012;97(3):599–611.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Manheimer E, et al. The effects of acupuncture on rates of clinical pregnancy among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2013;19(6):696–713.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Cheong YC, et al. Acupuncture and assisted reproductive technology. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;7:CD006920.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Yang H, et al. Systematic review of clinical trials of acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2008;87(11):1114–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Manheimer E, et al. Evidence from the Cochrane collaboration for traditional Chinese medicine therapies. J Altern Complement Med. 2009;15(9):1001–14.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. de Lacey S, Sanderman E, Smith CA. IVF, acupuncture and mental health: a qualitative study of perceptions and experiences of women participating in a randomized controlled trial of acupuncture during IVF treatment. Reprod Biomed Soc Online. 2021;12:22–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. LoGiudice JA, Massaro J. The impact of complementary therapies on psychosocial factors in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF): a systematic literature review. Appl Nurs Res. 2018;39:220–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Wang X, Wang Y, Wei S, He B, Cao Y, Zhang N, Li M. An overview of systematic reviews of acupuncture for infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Front Public Health. 2021;20(9):651811. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.651811. PMID: 33959581; PMCID: PMC8096176

  49. Quan K, Yu C, Wen X, Lin Q, Wang N, Ma H. Acupuncture as treatment for female infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022;2022:3595033.https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3595033. PMID: 35222669; PMCID: PMC8865966.

  50. Ried K. Chinese herbal medicine for female infertility: an updated meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2015;23(1):116–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Osmanagaoglu K, et al. Spontaneous pregnancies in couples who discontinued intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment: a 5-year follow-up study. Fertil Steril. 2002;78(3):550–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Troude P, et al. Seven out of 10 couples treated by IVF achieve parenthood following either treatment, natural conception or adoption. Reprod Biomed Online. 2016;33(5):560–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. ElMokhallalati Y, et al. Treatment-independent live birth after in-vitro fertilisation: a retrospective cohort study of 2, 133 women. Hum Reprod. 2019;34(8):1470–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Rooney KL, Domar AD. The relationship between stress and infertility. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018;20(1):41–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Peaston G, et al. The impact of emotional health on assisted reproductive technology outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2020:1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Russell G, Lightman S. The human stress response. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2019;15(9):525–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Whirledge S, Cidlowski JA. A role for glucocorticoids in stress-impaired reproduction: beyond the hypothalamus and pituitary. Endocrinology. 2013;154(12):4450–68.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  58. Dhama K, et al. Biomarkers in stress related diseases/disorders: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic values. Front Mol Biosci. 2019;6:91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  59. Lynch CD, et al. Preconception stress increases the risk of infertility: results from a couple-based prospective cohort study--the LIFE study. Hum Reprod. 2014;29(5):1067–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Garcia-Blanco A, et al. Anxiety and depressive symptoms, and stress biomarkers in pregnant women after in vitro fertilization: a prospective cohort study. Hum Reprod. 2018;33(7):1237–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Demyttenaere K, et al. Coping style and depression level influence outcome in in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 1998;69(6):1026–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Smeenk JM, et al. The effect of anxiety and depression on the outcome of in-vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod. 2001;16(7):1420–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Smeenk JM, et al. Stress and outcome success in IVF: the role of self-reports and endocrine variables. Hum Reprod. 2005;20(4):991–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Turner K, et al. Stress and anxiety scores in first and repeat IVF cycles: a pilot study. PLoS One. 2013;8(5):e63743.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  65. Miller N, et al. Does stress affect IVF outcomes? A prospective study of physiological and psychological stress in women undergoing IVF. Reprod Biomed Online. 2019;39(1):93–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Raad G, et al. Neurophysiology of cognitive behavioural therapy, deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation used in conjunction with ART treatments: a narrative review. Hum Reprod Update. 2020;

    Google Scholar 

  67. Meissner K, et al. Psychotherapy with somatosensory stimulation for endometriosis-associated pain: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(5):1134–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Beissner F, Preibisch C, Schweizer-Arau A, Popovici RM, Meissner K. Psychotherapy with somatosensory stimulation for endometriosis-associated pain: the role of the anterior hippocampus. Biol Psychiatry. 2018;84(10):734–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.01.006

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annemarie Schweizer-Arau .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Schweizer-Arau, A. (2022). Biopsychosocial Aspects of Natural Cycle IVF/Minimal Stimulation IVF. In: von Wolff, M. (eds) Natural Cycle and Minimal Stimulation IVF . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97571-5_23

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97571-5_23

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-97570-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-97571-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics