Effects of Mind–Body Programs on Infertile Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

summary: Purpose: This study was to systematically review randomized controlled trials and conduct a meta analysis. The results of randomized controlled trials were integrated and analyzed to assess the effects of mind-body programs on anxiety, depression, quality of life, and pregnancy rate in infertile women. Methods: Using electronic databases (i.e., Research Information Sharing Service, Korean Studies Information Service System, Korean Medical Database, National Digital Science Library, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PsycARTICLES), 10 of 2,259 studies were included for meta-analysis. To estimate the effect size, a meta-analysis of the studies was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results: The mind–body program was effective in relieving anxiety [standardized mean difference (SMD) = −3.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −5.94, −0.95; p = .007; I2 = 69%] and depression (SMD = −5.79; 95% CI = −10.36, −1.22; p = .010; I2 = 86%). Furthermore, it was effective in enhancing the quality of life (SMD = 7.40; 95% CI = 2.92, 11.88; p = .001; I2 = 53%) and pregnancy rate (SMD = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.08, 3.95; p = .030; I2 = 73%). The mind–body program was found to relieve anxiety and depression in infertile women and improve their quality of life, thereby positively affecting the pregnancy rate. Conclusion: The mind-body program was found to relieve anxiety and depression in infertile women and improve their quality of life, thereby positively affecting the pregnancy rate. The mind-body program needs to be considered to a wider audience for positive effects on emotions and pregnancy outcomes of infertile women.

Keywords

• emotions
• infertility
• meta-analysis
• mind–body therapies
• pregnancy rate