Effect of Heartfulness meditation based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes: A retrospective case series evaluation.
Snehal Deshpande, Kamlesh D Patel, Tejal Parulkar, Kalpana Mahabalesh, Poornima Madhusudhan, Divya K Madhusudhan, Jayaram Thimmapuram
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100793 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective series Randomized Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 54 |
| Population | Couples with infertility in India |
| Interventions | Heartfulness-based integrative therapy lifestyle modification workshop online follow-up meditation sessions |
| Duration | 5-day onsite workshop and online follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Assisted reproductive technology Heartfulness Infertility Integrative practices Lifestyle modification |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key points | 24 out of 54 couples conceived after participating in a Heartfulness-based integrative therapy program. |
Abstract
In Indian context, infertility is often a silent struggle. Despite the high prevalence of infertility in the country, the majority of couples do not share their struggles with family or friends due to social stigma, thus increasing their psychological vulnerability. Heartfulness meditation has shown to decrease stress, anxiety, loneliness and improve sleep along with quality of life. The current retrospective series evaluated the effectiveness of Heartfulness-based integrative therapy on infertility outcomes. The program consisted of a 5- day onsite lifestyle modification workshop and online follow up meditation sessions. 54 couples with infertility participated in the program with a mean age of 30.74 years (SD 5.04) for females and 34.03 years (SD 4.54) for males. 15 couples presented with male infertility, 16 couples presented with female infertility and in 5 couples both partners had infertility problems. Further, 18 couples had unexplained infertility. 24 couples conceived with 18 natural conceptions, five via assisted reproductive technology and one spontaneous abortion. The program was beneficial in the cohort who utilized it as prescribed resulting in conception of 24 out of 54 couples. Future research investigating the causal relationship of Heartfulness meditation on fertility outcomes in a randomized control study could solidify this treatment method to be used independently or as an adjuvant therapy with assisted reproductive technologies.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 4
- Heartfulness Meditation: A Yogic and Neuroscientific Perspective Frontiers in Psychology May 10, 2022
- Yoga perspective on personal excellence and well-being. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 2023
- Effect of Heartfulness cleaning and meditation on heart rate variability. Indian heart journal December 1, 2018
- Effect of heartfulness meditation on burnout, emotional wellness, and telomere length in health care professionals Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2017