A Mindful Path to Parenthood: Evaluating the Impact of Preksha Meditation and Yoga on IVF Outcomes in Infertile Couples - An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial

Infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, with 15–25 million in India alone. While In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a common assisted reproductive technology, its success is often hindered by high stress levels that negatively impact hormonal balance and reproductive health. This study investigates whether yoga and meditation can reduce psychological stress and enhance IVF outcomes. Grounded in scientific evidence showing the stress-lowering and hormone-regulating effects of mind-body practices, the research employs a randomized controlled trial with 140 infertile couples. Participants in the intervention group will undergo a 12-week guided yoga and meditation program alongside IVF treatment, while a control group receives standard care. The intervention includes physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation aimed at improving hormonal profiles, menstrual regularity, and endometrial receptivity. Psychological assessments (DASS-21, ERQ) and clinical fertility markers (e.g., oocyte retrieval, implantation rate, hormonal levels) will be evaluated before and after the program. The study hypothesizes that yoga and meditation will significantly reduce anxiety and depression, improve reproductive health parameters, and increase IVF success rates. If proven effective, this integrative approach could be adopted as a cost-effective, non-invasive adjunct therapy to conventional fertility treatments. Long-term plans include expanding the research to assess live birth rates and exploring the impact of mind-body practices on the gut microbiome and epigenetic changes in fertility.