20 January 2011
'Therapeutic clowning' boosts IVF
By Caroline Ryan
Sending in the clowns can significantly increase the chances that fertility treatment will be a success, Israeli researchers have found.
The team looked at women undergoing embryo transfers, where an IVF embryo is put into the womb.
Just over a third of women entertained by a clown conceived, compared to 19% of a group who were not, a European fertility conference heard.
Experts said helping patients relax was the key to increasing conception rates.
“ Clinicians need to be sensitive to the effects of emotions and the psychological pressures on couples ” Dr Mark Hamilton
The research was carried out by Dr Shevach Friedler at the Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre in Zerifin.
Dr Friedler, who attended a movement and mime school in France before he entered the medical profession, said he knew fertility patients became stressed - and that laughter could reduce stress.
And he pointed out that clowns were often used to help children who were in hospital feel better.
The team studied 186 women aged 25 to 40 over 10 months, all of whom were undergoing embryo transfer treatment.
Half were simply given the treatment and nothing else.
However, the other group were entertained by a clown for up to 15 minutes as they recuperated in bed after the treatment.
Of the 93 who did not receive the "clown-treatment", just 18 fell pregnant, compared to 33 of the 93 who did.
Dr Friedler said the team had needed to devise an adult-friendly clown: "A clown with a red nose is fine for children, but we had to invent a new character for these adult women."
The character they devised was a chef called Shlomi Algussi, who uses magic tricks and jokes to make women laugh.
Dr Friedler said: "The response form the women was wonderful."
But he added it was not something all clinics would be able to introduce.
"For medication, you can get the patient to pay, but who is going to pay for clowns?"
Dr Mark Hamilton, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said: "Humour is recognised as an antidote to stress, although it is not prescribed on the NHS.
"But clinicians need to be sensitive to the effects of emotions and the psychological pressures on couples.
"It's an important part of care which should be part of medical practice."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...lth/5099188.stm
Published: 2006/06/21 00:02:43 GMT
© BBC 2011
By Caroline Ryan
Sending in the clowns can significantly increase the chances that fertility treatment will be a success, Israeli researchers have found.
The team looked at women undergoing embryo transfers, where an IVF embryo is put into the womb.
Just over a third of women entertained by a clown conceived, compared to 19% of a group who were not, a European fertility conference heard.
Experts said helping patients relax was the key to increasing conception rates.
“ Clinicians need to be sensitive to the effects of emotions and the psychological pressures on couples ” Dr Mark Hamilton
The research was carried out by Dr Shevach Friedler at the Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre in Zerifin.
Dr Friedler, who attended a movement and mime school in France before he entered the medical profession, said he knew fertility patients became stressed - and that laughter could reduce stress.
And he pointed out that clowns were often used to help children who were in hospital feel better.
The team studied 186 women aged 25 to 40 over 10 months, all of whom were undergoing embryo transfer treatment.
Half were simply given the treatment and nothing else.
However, the other group were entertained by a clown for up to 15 minutes as they recuperated in bed after the treatment.
Of the 93 who did not receive the "clown-treatment", just 18 fell pregnant, compared to 33 of the 93 who did.
Dr Friedler said the team had needed to devise an adult-friendly clown: "A clown with a red nose is fine for children, but we had to invent a new character for these adult women."
The character they devised was a chef called Shlomi Algussi, who uses magic tricks and jokes to make women laugh.
Dr Friedler said: "The response form the women was wonderful."
But he added it was not something all clinics would be able to introduce.
"For medication, you can get the patient to pay, but who is going to pay for clowns?"
Dr Mark Hamilton, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said: "Humour is recognised as an antidote to stress, although it is not prescribed on the NHS.
"But clinicians need to be sensitive to the effects of emotions and the psychological pressures on couples.
"It's an important part of care which should be part of medical practice."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...lth/5099188.stm
Published: 2006/06/21 00:02:43 GMT
© BBC 2011
So, watch out the next time you are at your clinic for an ultrasound wanding... a clown might just pop up between your legs, or your RE might don a red nose and a curly multicoloured wig while inserting your embryos.
:flowers: OMG - this is incredible -- was waiting for the April Fool's at the end! Either that or a story about how a clown got his lights punched out!! How did you come across this story?
ReplyDeleterhubarb, 21 January 2011 - 04:08 AM
OMG!!! Who even said "hey let's introduce clowns into IVF treatments"!!!! this it too funny!
DiXie, 21 January 2011 - 04:55 AM
i would have stabbed the clown in the eye with the ultrasound wand.
sketches, 21 January 2011 - 06:10 AM
I saw this somewhere too and thought it was funny...should I mention it to the RE?
Yvonne, 21 January 2011 - 07:30 AM
LOL! As funny as it is to think about a clown being in the room with you, there is some merit to the idea that a relaxed, stress-free transfer increases success rates. :flowers:
kerrilyn, 21 January 2011 - 08:02 AM
Dr. H always teases me about being a researcher, and quizzing him about the results! LOL, I'd love to know his thoughts on the study. Us IF gals will try just about everything to increase our chances. Somehow I can't picture our RE dressing up in a clown costume though.
silverdollar, 21 January 2011 - 08:18 AM
Clowns scare the poop out of me. That would not be a happy experience for me. I do get the theory about making the atmosphere light though.
DeeJay, 21 January 2011 - 08:48 AM
:flowers: I can't think of anything much more stressful than lying half naked with my feet in stirrups while some 'chef clown' jumps up and down around me.How absurd. What will they think of next? Kind of puts it all in perspective, huh?
impatient, 21 January 2011 - 08:56 AM
Its quite funny but I think the principal is true.A light hearted, stress free and relaxed 2ww may be the key.
supermom, 21 January 2011 - 10:01 AM
I have always thought clowns are a bit creepy, but I have to say I love the idea of this study and the findings. Maybe I should have my DH dance (I didn't marry him for his dancing abilities, or lack there of) and tell jokes. Now that would be hilarious :flowers:
Dancerchick, 21 January 2011 - 10:14 AM
SO TRUE!I buy it as I was pregnant twice and I had a clown too! DH always makes light of things, always clowning around so much that sometimes he's not even doing anything and he cracks me up. I swore he was gonna make me laugh the embies out if he didn't stop.
tmariederm, 21 January 2011 - 10:47 AM
LMFAO!! :Emoticons09710:
papoose76, 21 January 2011 - 11:46 AM
Well there you go SD. You can save the stress and $$ from the Acupuncture and just hire a clown (since the statistics show the same increase in pg rate :Emoticons09710:).Thats a great article and love that you found it!
4leggedbaby, 21 January 2011 - 12:03 PM
Lots of things about this whole process I find quite entertaining and they make me laugh. I guess that's a good thing, but I've still never been pregnant! Maybe a clown will bring me my golden egg?
silverdollar, 21 January 2011 - 05:30 PM
Oh my goodness, the picture you attached. I'm totally picturing that face popping up between some woman's legs and am thoroughly creeped out! Ha!
conky, 22 January 2011 - 07:53 AM