Beliefs of subfertile Saudi women

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, Women's 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 du'a (supplications) (n=23; 45.1%), visiting a doctor (n=22; 43.1%), and reading Qur'an (n=5; 9.8%), although most (n=37; 72.5%) ultimately turned to the Qur'an 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.