TY - JOUR
T1 - Hormonal medication in medically assisted reproduction: a systematic review of assessments from patients
AU - Lankreijer, Kay
AU - D'Hooghe, Thomas M.
AU - Apers, Silke
AU - Sermeus, Walter
AU - Repping, Sjoerd
AU - Dancet, Eline A. F.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Several hormonal fertility medications have comparable effectiveness. A literature review was conducted into patients’ assessments regarding seven medication characteristics including 'side effects’ and ‘ease of use’. Medline, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for female fertility patients’ written assessments of a hormonal medication. The tools used were appraised and common (i.e. ≥10%) unpleasant consequences were distinguished from rare ones. The 35 eligible studies did not rely on valid and reliable tools and did not provide patient assessments regarding all seven medication characteristics for any of the globally used medications. Evidence on medications for oocyte triggering was absent and for induction of pituitary quiescence it was scarce. Regarding medications for ovarian stimulation and luteal support, evidence on general side effects (mostly headache), local side effects (mostly pain), ‘interference with home life’ and ‘impact on psychological wellbeing’ was found. Evidence on ‘ease of use’ and ‘required education’ was only identified for medication for ovarian stimulation. Evidence on ‘interference with work life’ and ‘compliance worry’ was absent. This review calls for randomized controlled trials questioning patients with valid and reliable tools. In the meantime, this review's summary of the best available evidence can be integrated in decision aids facilitating personalized and informed medication choices.
AB - Several hormonal fertility medications have comparable effectiveness. A literature review was conducted into patients’ assessments regarding seven medication characteristics including 'side effects’ and ‘ease of use’. Medline, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for female fertility patients’ written assessments of a hormonal medication. The tools used were appraised and common (i.e. ≥10%) unpleasant consequences were distinguished from rare ones. The 35 eligible studies did not rely on valid and reliable tools and did not provide patient assessments regarding all seven medication characteristics for any of the globally used medications. Evidence on medications for oocyte triggering was absent and for induction of pituitary quiescence it was scarce. Regarding medications for ovarian stimulation and luteal support, evidence on general side effects (mostly headache), local side effects (mostly pain), ‘interference with home life’ and ‘impact on psychological wellbeing’ was found. Evidence on ‘ease of use’ and ‘required education’ was only identified for medication for ovarian stimulation. Evidence on ‘interference with work life’ and ‘compliance worry’ was absent. This review calls for randomized controlled trials questioning patients with valid and reliable tools. In the meantime, this review's summary of the best available evidence can be integrated in decision aids facilitating personalized and informed medication choices.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85061307913&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30770286
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.12.047
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.12.047
M3 - Review article
C2 - 30770286
SN - 1472-6483
VL - 38
SP - 341
EP - 363
JO - Reproductive BioMedicine Online
JF - Reproductive BioMedicine Online
IS - 3
ER -