Wednesday, June 21, 2006

More work for psychologists

BBC NEWS | Health | Counselling 'restores fertility'

The study reported above seems small scale, but with surprisingly good results:

Their preliminary study focused on 16 young women who had not had a period for six months, even though some already had children.

They had all been diagnosed with a condition called functional hypothalamic amennhorea (FHA), caused by a prolonged reduction in levels of a hormone which signals the release into the bloodstream of hormones that simulate ovulation.

The women had been shown to have increased levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.

Half were given cognitive behavioural therapy, tailored to their own situations for 20 weeks.

Over the course of the study, six of the eight women given CBT regained full fertility, with one showing some signs of restored ovarian function.

Two later became pregnant within two months.

In the eight women who received no treatment, one recovered her fertility while another showed signs of ovarian function.

I have mentioned cognitive behaviour therapy before. It seems to have much going for it.

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