Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Infertility.

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the complementary and alternative treatments used by infertile women in Turkey.

Materials and methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional design was used in the study conducted at the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Center (ARTC) of a university hospital in Istanbul city. The study sample consisted of 153 women diagnosed with infertility, who volunteered to participate in the research. Study data were collected using a 'Participant Information Form,' created by the researchers, and the 'Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approaches Scale.'

Results: It was determined that 30.1% of the women included in the study used complementary and alternative medicine methods in addition to infertility treatments. The level of education had a statistically significant effect only on the mean manipulative approaches sub-dimension score, the place of residence on the mean cognitive behavioral sub-dimension score, and the type of infertility and the duration of treatment on the mean biological approaches sub-dimension score (P < .05). However, the mean score of the total Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approaches Scale did not affect the mean scores of other sub-dimensions (P > .05).

Conclusion: This study determined that the complementary and alternative medicine methods commonly used by women include biological and cognitive behavioral approaches. Women who had received secondary infertility treatment and had a long period of infertility were found to use complementary and alternative medicine methods at a higher rate.