RMA of Connecticut team including Dr. Spencer Richlin present research at ASRM meeting.
“Given that many patients stop infertility treatment prematurely due to stress and feelings of discouragement, the techniques used in our Fertile Yoga program could ultimately provide patients with the emotional energy and skills necessary to continue with fertility treatment.,” said Dr. Richlin.
NORWALK, Conn. (PRWEB)
December 03, 2019
Research conducted out of RMA of Connecticut, a leading fertility practice whose exceptional quality and care helps couples and individuals grow their family, shows that Fertile Yoga reduces stress and increases hopefulness in women undergoing fertility treatment. The study was authored by RMA of Connecticut staff members including Dr. Spencer Richlin, a partner and Surgical Director, Robin Mangieri, CEO, and Lisa Rosenthal, a registered yoga teacher and a patient advocate. The results of the study were presented at the ASRM conference in October.
The study included 55 women of various ages who were undergoing different types of fertility treatments and at various stages. The women were asked to complete a questionnaire before and after taking the Fertile Yoga class for a maximum of 4 months. The questionnaire included questions regarding stress, sadness and levels of hopefulness on a zero to 10 scale, where zero indicated no evidence of stress, sadness or hope and a 10 meant the highest level of stress, sadness, and hope.
Dr. Richlin says, “Given that many patients stop infertility treatment prematurely due to stress and feelings of discouragement, the techniques used in our Fertility Yoga program could ultimately provide patients with the emotional energy and skills necessary to continue with fertility treatment.”
Fertile Yoga is open to the public and is a free program for patients going through various stages of infertility treatment. Fertile Yoga combines two techniques, which include a one-minute mantra: “I am strong, healthy, resilient, hopeful, capable and fertile,” and seven movements of the spine, which include forwarding flexion, backbend extension, lateral left bend, and lateral right bend, left rotation twist, right rotation twist, and axial extension.
The researchers did not use a clinical diagnosis to determine scales of sadness, stress and hope but instead highlighted purposefully outcomes by the way the women felt. Their findings indicated a statistically significant decrease in stress and sadness and an improvement in overall hopefulness after taking the yoga class, in all age groups. The students reported that they were likely to continue to use the mantra and spine movements during their infertility journey.
For more information about Fertile Yoga and RMA of Connecticut, please visit rmact.com/fertility-yoga.
About Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMA of Connecticut)
RMA of Connecticut is a leader in fertility care, specializing in a range of infertility treatments. Our assisted reproductive technologies (ART) include intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT). RMA of Connecticut is Fairfield County’s largest fertility clinic and egg donation center. Through RMA of Connecticut’s Integrated Fertility and Wellness Center, we offer nutrition counseling, individual and couples psychological counseling, acupuncture and yoga, as well as financing and support services for our patients going through infertility treatment.
Our internationally recognized Gay Parents To Be® program at RMA of Connecticut specializes in LGBTQ family building. This is the third year in a row that RMA of Connecticut was recognized as a Leader in Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign.
Share article on social media or email: