From nouveau bell bottoms to resurrected skinny jeans to wide-leg trousers... It's hard to know a passing fad from a true trend toward change, especially in terms of medicine.

In recent years, we've heard so much about holistic therapies for infertility treatment. There's even been an admirable amount of research demonstrating positive effects from what we tend to call "eastern" or even "oriental" medicine. Has it really changed the practice of reproductive medicine?

A few years ago, I was frequently asked by patients about the validity of these treatment modalities. Now, the buzz from the sudden flurry of books, websites, and new practices has quieted down a bit. Fewer patients inquire, and my response is generally still the same: any type of treatment, no matter from where it originates, is optimal only if tailored specifically to the individual patient's circumstances.

More Than a Fertility Patient

Just as not all clothing styles look good on everyone, there simply is no one-size-fits-all treatment for infertility.

I am a believer in trying what is not harmful or counter- productive. I have referral relationships with practitioners of various therapeutic realms that can enhance both my patients' experience with and results from conventional medical treatment. I recommend what I believe to be beneficial, using a combination of experience and published research results. I welcome discussion with patients who bring new ideas to my office.

Has the introduction and fluctuating popularity of holistic treatments influenced my reproductive medicine practice? No -- regardless of the tools available, I have always and still consider the patient as a whole person with many interwoven needs. If it works for you, I want you to have access to it.

In Closing

Sincerely,

Sonja B. Kristiansen, MD