The effect of medical clowning on pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

Shevach Friedler; Saralee Glasser; Liat Azani; Laurence S Freedman; Arie Raziel; Dvora Strassburger; Raphael Ron-El; Liat Lerner-Geva

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.12.016

The effect of medical clowning on pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

Fertil Steril. 2011 May;95(6):2127-30. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.12.016. Epub 2011 Jan 6.

Authors

Shevach Friedler¹, Saralee Glasser, Liat Azani, Laurence S Freedman, Arie Raziel, Dvora Strassburger, Raphael Ron-El, Liat Lerner-Geva

Affiliation

¹ Infertility and IVF unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zrifin, Israel. ivfunitdoc@asaf.health.gov.il

PMID: 21211796
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.12.016

Abstract

This experimental prospective quasi-randomized study examining the impact of a medical clowning encounter after embryo transfer (ET) after in vitro fertilization (IVF) found that the pregnancy rate in the intervention group was 36.4%, compared with 20.2% in the control group (adjusted odds ratio, 2.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-5.24). Medical clowning as an adjunct to IVF-ET may have a beneficial effect on pregnancy rates and deserves further investigation.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Embryo Transfer / methods
Embryo Transfer / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Fertilization in Vitro / methods*
Fertilization in Vitro / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Infertility / epidemiology
Infertility / psychology
Infertility / therapy
Laughter Therapy / methods*
Male
Middle Aged
Oocyte Retrieval / methods
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Rate*
Stress, Psychological / complications
Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Treatment Outcome
Wit and Humor as Topic / psychology*