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The Effect of the Mind/Body Program for Fertility, Hungarian Version, on Well-Being and Assisted Reproduction Outcomes

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Infertility, Female
Interventions
Behavioral: Mind/Body Program for Fertility (Domar et al., 2011)
Behavioral: Fertility Support Program
Registration Number
NCT04151485
Lead Sponsor
Semmelweis University
Brief Summary

Involuntary childlessness is an emotionally stressful experience; however, psychosocial counseling is typically not available in Hungarian routine fertility care. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to examine the effectiveness of a Mind/Body psychological fertility intervention for women in reproductive treatment. We hypothesize that participants of the Mind/Body Program for Fertility, Hungarian version, will have more favorable psychological well-being, ART outcome results than participants of the Fertility Support Groups.

Detailed Description

Involuntary childlessness imposes significant psychological burden on those affected, particularly those involved in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The reduction of psychological distress has been shown to improve the quality of life of those affected and to possibly increase chances of pregnancy. While in more developed countries psychological support is largely available in routine fertility care, it is not yet part of the Hungarian ART protocol.

In this study, the effects of a psychosocial intervention, namely, the Hungarian version of the Mind/Body Program for Fertility (Domar et al., 2011), will be tested on the psychological well-being and ART outcomes of women in reproductive treatment, in a randomized controlled pre-post design.

For this purpose, women in ART treatment will fill in screening questionnaires (on depression, anxiety, stress, etc.), and moderate to high scorers will be randomized into an intervention (Mind/Body) group (N=70) and a comparison intervention (Fertility Support) group (N=70), lasting for 10 weeks each, before and/or during an ART cycle. Both interventions will be delivered by the same clinical psychologist, listed as central contact person below, officially trained in the Mind/Body Program for Fertility by Dr. Alice Domar at Boston IVF, Waltham, Massachusetts. A smartphone application for rating subjective stress levels twice a day, from the start of the stimulation to the day of the pregnancy test, will also be administered. Additionally, whole-night sleep EEGs will be recorded.

Medical data (such as diagnosis, hormone levels, previous treatment cycles, etc.) and sociodemographic (such as age, education, etc.) and psychological variables (such as personality traits, chronotype, intelligence, etc.) as potential moderators, as well as ART outcomes will be reported. Data of respondents willing to fill in pre- and post-questionnaires but 1) not motivated to take part in the study, or 2) motivated to take part in the study, but not able to make it, will be registered but excluded from statistical analysis comparing RCT results.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
177
Inclusion Criteria

All women awaiting or undergoing infertility treatment (insemination, in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection) at the Assisted Reproduction Center of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Semmelweis University, Budapest, who:

  • give informed consent to participating in the study
  • have sufficient knowledge of the Hungarian language
Exclusion Criteria
  • active psychotic episode
  • severe depression or other major psychiatric diagnoses
  • substance abuse
  • eating disorders

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Mind/Body GroupMind/Body Program for Fertility (Domar et al., 2011)All persons allocated to the intervention group will take part in a 10-week Mind/Body skills development fertility program parallel with fertility workup and treatment.
Support GroupFertility Support ProgramAll persons allocated to the comparison intervention group will take part in a 10-week fertility support program parallel with fertility workup and treatment.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Clinical pregnancythrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Rate of clinical pregnancies at post-measurement

Mean change from baseline in results on the Fertility Quality of Life toolthrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Mean change from baseline in results on the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) Core Scale, subscales and Treatment Module

Mean change from baseline in results on the SCREENIVF toolthrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Mean change from baseline in results on the SCREENIVF tool and its subscales

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mean change from baseline on a Likert scale measuring strength of intention to continue treatmentthrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Mean change from baseline on a 10-point Likert scale measuring strength of intention to continue treatment (if first ART cycle not successful) to post-measurement

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Assisted Reproduction Center of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Semmelweis University

🇭🇺

Budapest, Hungary

Institute of Behavioral Sciences at Semmelweis University

🇭🇺

Budapest, Hungary

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