The effect of mindfulness meditation nursing on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
African journal of reproductive health March 2, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2026/v30i4.7 via PubMed
Summary
Infertile patients undergoing IVF-embryo transfer who received mindfulness meditation nursing alongside routine care had lower postoperative pain, less anxiety and depression, better sleep quality, and higher overall quality of life compared to those receiving only routine care. They also had more punctured follicles and retrieved oocytes, more embryos transferred on day three, and a higher pregnancy rate. Adding mindfulness meditation to nursing care during IVF-ET can reduce psychological stress and improve clinical outcomes.
Study at a glance
| Design | randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 100 |
| Population | infertile patients undergoing IVF-embryo transfer |
| Key finding | Adding mindfulness meditation nursing to routine care during IVF-ET significantly reduced psychological stress and improved pain, anxiety, depression, sleep, quality of life, and pregnancy outcomes. |
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of mindfulness meditation (MM) nursing on outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). A total of 100 infertile patients undergoing IVF-ET were randomly assigned to either a conventional care group or an MM group, with 50 patients in each. While both groups received routine nursing, the MM group received additional MM-based nursing interventions. Compared to the conventional group, the MM group showed significantly lower postoperative pain scores (VAS) and better psychological outcomes, as evidenced by improvements in anxiety (SAS), depression (SDS), sleep quality (PSQI), and overall quality of life (WHO-QOL-BREF) (all P<0.001). Moreover, the MM group had higher numbers of punctured follicles and retrieved oocytes (P<0.001), more embryos transferred on day 3 post-retrieval (P=0.047), and a higher pregnancy rate (P=0.045). These findings suggest that incorporating MM into nursing care during IVF-ET can effectively reduce psychological stress, enhance well-being, and improve clinical outcomes.