News Release:
UNE studies link between health and fertility
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Date 22/8/02 No 100/02 The University of New England is evaluating a complementary medicine
program that has had significant success in treating infertile couples. UNE physiologist Dr Gemma O'Brien said this is the first time the
program has been evaluated scientifically. The program, "Pre-conception Health Care for Both Parents",
has been available in Australia for over a decade. It aims at improving
the general health of both prospective parents, and includes the
adjustment of lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, and social
drug use, and metabolic factors such as body weight and the results
of exposure to environmental toxins. While the program has been highly successful in overcoming infertility
problems, the UNE research is now examining whether there is a measurable
relationship between improvements in the health of both parents
and subsequent conception rates. Dr O'Brien said study of this parental-health
factor would not stop at conception, but would continue through
pregnancy and early infancy. |
Forty-six couples are involved in the study, which is being conducted
at The Jocelyn Centre in Sydney. They have undergone a four-to-six-month
program involving individually tailored combinations of medical
and naturopathic treatment. These included antibiotics, nutritional
supplements, herbal medications, education to minimise exposure
to heavy metals, radiation and stress, and improved exercise and
nutrition. The researchers collected data relating to general health
from blood, urine and hair samples, and from detailed questionnaires,
both before and after the program. "We have shown that the
program does result in improvements in most aspects of health that
we examined," Dr O'Brien said. About two-thirds of the 46 couples entered the program after being
diagnosed as "infertile". Pregnancies had been confirmed
in 25 per cent of these "infertile" couples (and in 43
per cent of the others) within a few months of their completing
the program, and the researchers will continue to monitor conception
rates for up to 12 months after completion. They point out that
couples can assist subsequent conceptions by maintaining the health
improvements achieved during the program. "We're helping people regain control of this very important
part of their lives," Dr O'Brien said. "This simpler,
more natural approach to fertility problems will also help to balance
the country's medical budget for future generations." Media contact: Dr Gemma O'Brien, School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, UNE, Armidale (02) 6773 2505 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE, Armidale (02) 6773 3049. |
