Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation
Background: In Indian context, infertility is often a silent struggle. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in the country, the majority of couples do not share their struggles with family or friends due to social stigma, thus increasing their psychological vulnerability. Heartfulness meditati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947623001092 |
| _version_ | 1797374242350694400 |
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| author | Snehal Deshpande Kamlesh D. Patel Tejal Parulkar Kalpana Mahabalesh Poornima Madhusudhan Divya K. Madhusudhan Jayaram Thimmapuram |
| author_facet | Snehal Deshpande Kamlesh D. Patel Tejal Parulkar Kalpana Mahabalesh Poornima Madhusudhan Divya K. Madhusudhan Jayaram Thimmapuram |
| author_sort | Snehal Deshpande |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In Indian context, infertility is often a silent struggle. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in the country, the majority of couples do not share their struggles with family or friends due to social stigma, thus increasing their psychological vulnerability. Heartfulness meditation has shown to decrease stress, anxiety, loneliness and improve sleep along with quality of life. Objectives: The current retrospective series evaluated the effectiveness of Heartfulness-based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes. Methods: The program consisted of a 5- day onsite lifestyle modification workshop and online follow up meditation sessions. Results: 54 couples with infertility participated in the program with a mean age of 30.74 years (SD 5.04) for females and 34.03 years (SD 4.54) for males. 15 couples presented with male infertility, 16 couples presented with female infertility and in 5 couples both partners had infertility problems. Further, 18 couples had unexplained infertility. 24 couples conceived with 18 natural conceptions, five via assisted reproductive technology and one spontaneous abortion. Conclusion: The program was beneficial in the cohort who utilized it as prescribed resulting in conception of 24 out of 54 couples. Future research investigating the causal relationship of Heartfulness meditation on fertility outcomes in a randomized control study could solidify this treatment method to be used independently or as an adjuvant therapy with assisted reproductive technologies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:02:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad8d8b803b75434b8c3f5d9e04615262 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0975-9476 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:02:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad8d8b803b75434b8c3f5d9e046152622023-12-28T05:14:38ZengElsevierJournal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine0975-94762023-11-01146100793Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluationSnehal Deshpande0Kamlesh D. Patel1Tejal Parulkar2Kalpana Mahabalesh3Poornima Madhusudhan4Divya K. Madhusudhan5Jayaram Thimmapuram6SNEH Rehabilitation, Education and Research Centre, India; Corresponding author.Heartfulness Institute, IndiaGurukrupa Diagnostic Services, Harda, IndiaHamilton and Bailey Hospital, Bangalore, IndiaPoornima Hospital - Women and Child Care, IndiaGCSRT, Department of Postgraduate Medical Education, Harvard Medical School, USAInternal Medicine, WellSpan York Hospital, USABackground: In Indian context, infertility is often a silent struggle. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in the country, the majority of couples do not share their struggles with family or friends due to social stigma, thus increasing their psychological vulnerability. Heartfulness meditation has shown to decrease stress, anxiety, loneliness and improve sleep along with quality of life. Objectives: The current retrospective series evaluated the effectiveness of Heartfulness-based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes. Methods: The program consisted of a 5- day onsite lifestyle modification workshop and online follow up meditation sessions. Results: 54 couples with infertility participated in the program with a mean age of 30.74 years (SD 5.04) for females and 34.03 years (SD 4.54) for males. 15 couples presented with male infertility, 16 couples presented with female infertility and in 5 couples both partners had infertility problems. Further, 18 couples had unexplained infertility. 24 couples conceived with 18 natural conceptions, five via assisted reproductive technology and one spontaneous abortion. Conclusion: The program was beneficial in the cohort who utilized it as prescribed resulting in conception of 24 out of 54 couples. Future research investigating the causal relationship of Heartfulness meditation on fertility outcomes in a randomized control study could solidify this treatment method to be used independently or as an adjuvant therapy with assisted reproductive technologies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947623001092Anxiety and stress managementAssisted reproductive technologyHeartfulnessInfertilityIntegrative practicesLifestyle modification |
| spellingShingle | Snehal Deshpande Kamlesh D. Patel Tejal Parulkar Kalpana Mahabalesh Poornima Madhusudhan Divya K. Madhusudhan Jayaram Thimmapuram Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine Anxiety and stress management Assisted reproductive technology Heartfulness Infertility Integrative practices Lifestyle modification |
| title | Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation |
| title_full | Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation |
| title_short | Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation |
| title_sort | effect of heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes a retrospective case series evaluation |
| topic | Anxiety and stress management Assisted reproductive technology Heartfulness Infertility Integrative practices Lifestyle modification |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947623001092 |
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