Q: Do complementary therapies hamper IVF?

A: A recent study carried out by Cardiff University has found that women who combine complementary therapy with IVF treatment are 30% less likely to fall pregnant than those who undergo IVF alone.

While this headline-making statement implies that complementary therapy somehow interferes with the IVF process, this does not mean couples should not seek help from complementary therapies during fertility treatments. Apart from the fact that numerous studies indicate potential benefits there could also be alternate explanations for these findings.

Of the 818 Danish women who took part in the Cardiff study almost 1/3 undertook some form of complementary therapy along with their IVF treatment; with reflexology and nutritional supplements being the most popular. It was found that these women had more fertility treatment and a lower rate of pregnancy than those who used no form of complementary medicine at all. However, the research also found that those who complemented IVF with alternative therapies had experienced more medical fertility intervention prior to the start of the study and were also significantly more stressed about the IVF process and its possible outcomes.

It is indeed possible that the findings of the study simply show that the women who were having more trouble conceiving prior to the cycles of IVF started to become more stressed about their fertility and looked to complementary therapies as traditional methods alone did not seem to be working.

It is also possible that the elevated levels of stress reported by those who chose to use a form of complementary medicine were responsible for their inability to conceive successfully and as a consequence drove them to use alternative treatments in an attempt to relax and facilitate the process.

While it is unlikely that physical therapies such as reflexology interfere with IVF, previous research has found that some herbal supplements such as St john’s wort, Echinacea and ginkgo biloba may have an adverse effect on fertility so this could all help to explain the findings.

Finally, the Cardiff University research is preliminary and there are plans to monitor the women over a 5 year period. Until we know more, complementary therapies during fertility treatment should not be abandoned – there is too much evidence of their beneficial efforts.

If you fancy a cruise this summer but are worried about seasickness try wearing some sea bands, available from most chemists.

They are a natural, drug free way to banish nausea. The stretchy wristbands work on the Chinese principle of acupressure, exerting a gentle pressure on acupuncture point Pericardium 6, known to help nausea. They work for travel and morning sickness and other types of nausea too.

Mosquito repellents are essential on holiday, but many of us have concerns about the effects of putting strong concoctions, such as the pesticide DEET, on our skin. Try these natural alternatives to stay bite and bug free this summer:

• Mosi-guard Natural is a natural and effective repellent spray available from health foods shops and chemists. The active ingredient used is a naturally occurring extract of lemon eucalyptus oil. It protects for up to ten hours against sand flies, ticks, midges and mosquitoes.
• Mix citronella oil (citronella oil is available from most health food shops) extracted from the plant cymbopogon nardus, with a carrier oil and rub into the skin. Also try rubbing wild mint leaves, which contain the natural repellent pulegone on your skin.
• Combining the following essential oils to make a natural insect repellent:
  • 1/2 ounce citronella oil
  • 1/4 ounce lavender oil
  • 1/8 ounce pennyroyal oil
  • 1/8 ounce tea tree oil
  • 1/8 ounce jojoba oil

Do not use this blend undiluted on your skin. Follow these instructions for diluting:

• To make an insect repellent oil that can be used on your body, add 16 ounces of jojoba or almond oil to the base oil mixture and blend thoroughly.

• For an insect repellent spray, add 16 ounces of vodka to the base oil mixture, pour into a spray bottle, and shake before using.

• Arnywear sarongs, kaftans, stroller covers and soft toys are available from chemists and off the web. Arnywear is a new fabric impregnated with a natural mosquito repellent that is totally safe for children. It gives a no bite zone of around 50cm for thousands of different types of insects.