Table 1 Characteristics of participants
Characteristics | N | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
Recruitment | TCM practitioners (n=3) | 16 | 64 |
Internet forums (n=2) | 3 | 12 | |
Newspaper advertisements | 2 | 8 | |
Other participants | 4 | 16 | |
Mean age | 37.3 years (SD 3.6) | 25 | 100 |
Education | University degree | 14 | 56 |
Vocational | 5 | 20 | |
Secondary school | 6 | 24 | |
Ethnicity | Caucasian | 23 | 92 |
Latin American | 2 | 8 | |
Place of birth | Australia | 20 | 80 |
Overseas English-speaking | 3 | 12 | |
Overseas non English-speaking | 2 | 8 | |
Place of residence | South Australia | 22 | 88 |
Other state in Australia | 3 | 12 | |
Infertility status | Primary infertility | 18 | 72 |
Secondary infertility | 4 | 16 | |
Stillbirth | 3 | 12 | |
Infertility history | Problems with conception: | 19 | 76 |
Unexplained infertility | 11 | 44 | |
PCOS | 4 | 16 | |
Endometriosis | 3 | 12 | |
Poor egg quality | 1 | 4 | |
Problems retaining viable pregnancy: | 6 | 24 | |
Recurrent miscarriage (range n= 3–5) | 3 | 12 | |
Stillbirth | 3 | 12 | |
Mean (range) time trying to conceive | 4.5 (1–10) years | 25 | 100 |
Conventional/WM treatment | Attended fertility clinic | 17 | 68 |
Number of IVF cycles (mean 2.5, range 0–15) | 14 | 56 |