The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Infertile Women Presenting at The Infertility Outpatient Clinic

OpenAlex İngilizce

Objectives: The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is common among infertile women. Many studies in Türkiye and throughout the world have shown that infertile women use CAM methods at high rates to increase the chance of conception. This study aimed to determine the status and characteristics of infertile women using CAM. Method: The study was planned as a cross-sectional study. Infertile women who presented at the Infertility Outpatient Clinic were included in the study. The women were questioned in respect of sociodemographic characteristics, medical characteristics related to infertility, CAM use status and types and frequency of CAM use. Results: Evaluations were made of 311 infertile women, of which 65.3% (n=203) used CAM. Herbal methods were the most frequently used CAM method (26.3%), and the most used herbal product was onion water. A statistically significant relationship was found between CAM use and the duration of marriage, occupation, education level, history of IUI and IVF, belief in the benefits of CAM methods and recommendation status (p