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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the beliefs of infertile Saudi women and acquire information on alternative medicine usage by infertility patients. METHODS: Between February 2008 and January 2009 a cross-sectional survey was performed in a tertiary hospital. Fifty-one patients attending the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Medicine Department, Women9s Specialized Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were interviewed at random. They were asked questions pertaining to their beliefs and alternative therapies used to treat their infertility. Information was entered into an Excel sheet, and statistical analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Eighteen (35.3%) women believed their infertility was the result of the evil eye, and 13 (25.5%) believed it was due to envy. The first choice when the women realized they had difficulty conceiving were du9a (supplications) (n=23; 45.1%), visiting a doctor (n=22; 43.1%), and reading Qur9an (n=5; 9.8%), although most (n=37; 72.5%) ultimately turned to the Qur9an as a remedy. Herbal medicine was used by 35 (68.6%) patients. CONCLUSION: We believe healthcare professionals should consider the personal beliefs and alternatives that subfertile women resort to.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

425

Last Page

427

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