The authors in the article use data gathered from infertile women who were seeking help from infertility specialty clinics in Korea. This was aimed at helping to explore the experiences and perceptions associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to address infertility problems. CAM refers to the non-mainstream medical systems, activities and products that are commonly utilized together with conventional techniques.
CAM is considered to be effective among infertile women by helping to improve their fertility and wellbeing. Data were gathered using a survey instrument that had 47 questions focusing on the use of CAM, demographic factors, well-being, and the type of infertility affecting the participants. The participants’ use of CAM was dependent on whether or not they were employed, the length of time they had been struggling with infertility, and their judgments of how serious the issue was.
Participants who perceived their infertility problem to be serious were more likely to turn to the use of traditional medicine. The manner in which infertile women comprehend both their problem and their physical concerns contributes to the chance that they will engage in self-care behaviors. Infertile persons turn to CAM treatments like multivitamins as well as conventional therapy. They have the perception that CAM modalities are safer since they follow a more natural and holistic approach toward healthcare.
In conclusion patterns in CAM use are greatly influenced by socioeconomic and cultural practices that are common within a particular population. It is imperative that an understanding of the therapeutic impact be gained from the utilization of typical CAM modalities in conjunction with other conventional therapy approaches. This will enable professionals to implement effective intervention strategies when providing care to women who are suffering from infertility.
Reference
Hwang, J. H., Kim, Y. Y., Im, H. B., & Han, D. (2019). Complementary and alternative medicine use among infertile women attending infertility specialty clinics in South Korea: does perceived severity matter?BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 19, Web.