Mindfulness Vs Dry Cupping for PCOS
New research alert!
This new research focused on exploring the effectiveness of dry cupping therapy versus mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on the fertility quality of life (QoL) and conception success in women with PCOS-related infertility. The study was small and included 19 women, divided into two groups: one receiving MBCT and the other undergoing cupping therapy.
The intervention lasted for two months for both the cupping and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) groups:
Cupping Therapy: Each woman in the cupping group received cupping sessions twice a week for two months, totaling approximately 16 sessions. These sessions were conducted during non-menstrual days.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): The participants in the MBCT group attended eight weekly sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. The sessions were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and included exercises such as mindful breathing, body scanning, and movement.
Main Findings:
Improved Fertility Quality of Life (QoL): MBCT significantly improved the overall fertility QoL compared to cupping therapy. The results showed that women in the MBCT group had higher mean scores on the FertiQol questionnaire than those in the cupping group. Specifically, MBCT had a strong effect on emotional, mind-body, and social aspects of fertility QoL. However, it didn’t significantly impact the “treatment” or “relation” subscales.
Conception Rates: Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in conception rates between the two groups after the intervention. Only one participant in each group had a positive pregnancy test during the study period. Larger studies would be needed.
Surprising Findings: Despite cupping therapy’s historical use for well-being and pain relief, it did not significantly improve fertility QoL or increase conception rates in this pilot study. On the other hand, MBCT proved beneficial in enhancing fertility QoL, suggesting the power of psychological interventions in managing infertility-related stress in women with PCOS.
So in a nutshell, while cupping therapy may have its uses, the real winner here for improving quality of life for women with PCOS-related infertility seems to be mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.
It’s not a magic cure for conception, but it can certainly support the emotional and mental journey so many women face when trying to conceive with this metabolic condition.
Tracy
