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Perceptions among infertile couples of lifestyle behaviors and in vitro fertilization (IVF) success

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Purpose

To assess how patients perceive various lifestyle behaviors impact IVF success.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of heterosexual, English-speaking couples (n = 138) who completed web-based surveys during IVF treatment cycle. Perceived impact of lifestyle choices assessed by multivariable logistic regression and p-value tests for linear trend (Pt).

Result(s)

During the IVF cycle, most patients consider it helpful for women to exercise (76 %), avoid stress (87 %) and limit activity after embryo transfer (92 %). The majority of patients (62 %) consider rigorous exercise (4+ h/week) helpful and nearly one-third (32 %) perceive benefit to complete bed rest after transfer. Overall, couples with a sex-specific infertility diagnosis are more likely to consider partner’s lifestyle choices impactful: male-factor couples are more likely to consider it helpful for men to limit cellular phone use (OR:2.73,CI:1.06–7.04) and diminished ovarian reserve couples are more likely to consider it helpful for women to limit exposure to plastics (OR:2.38,CI:1.03–5.51). Patients at higher levels of education (Pt < 0.01) and income (Pt < 0.01) are less likely to consider lifestyle impactful.

Conclusion(s)

Patient perceptions of the impact of lifestyle factors on IVF success vary by sex, infertility diagnosis and socioeconomic factors. Despite counseling to the contrary, many patients perceive benefit to rigorous exercise during the IVF cycle and complete bedrest following transfer. Results provide insight into patient beliefs and highlight opportunities to improve patient education, alleviate patient anxieties and potentially improve IVF outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

MD Hornstein is a paid consultant for WINFertility and receives royalties from Up to Date. Other authors have no relationships to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, 250 E. Superior, # 5-2177, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Leah K. Hawkins

  2. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Leah K. Hawkins, Brooke V. Rossi, Katharine F. Correia, Shane T. Lipskind, Mark D. Hornstein & Stacey A. Missmer

  3. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Brooke V. Rossi

  4. Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Stacey A. Missmer

  5. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Stacey A. Missmer

Authors
  1. Leah K. Hawkins
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  2. Brooke V. Rossi
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  3. Katharine F. Correia
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  4. Shane T. Lipskind
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  5. Mark D. Hornstein
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  6. Stacey A. Missmer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leah K. Hawkins.

Additional information

Capsule Patient perceptions of lifestyle factors are associated with sex, infertility diagnosis and education and demonstrate that most patients consider bedrest and exercise influential.

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Hawkins, L.K., Rossi, B.V., Correia, K.F. et al. Perceptions among infertile couples of lifestyle behaviors and in vitro fertilization (IVF) success. J Assist Reprod Genet 31, 255–260 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0176-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0176-5

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