Music therapy in stress: proposal of extension to Assisted Reproduction

Infertility is recognized as a disease of several causes by the World Health Organization. Assisted reproduction has a historic of progress since the development of biotechnology. Women who need this treatment are under stress and emotional tension. Since the 1980´s, professionals have been worried with psychological aspects of the patient that undergoes the Assisted Reproduction treatment. Studies about music therapy show positive results in diminishing/reducing patients’ emotional stress in many specialties. However, there were not studies showing scientific results of this therapeutic approach. There were, though, works in correlated areas, such as Gynecology and Obstetrics. Therefore, a literature review was conducted in the following data bases: PubMed, Lilacs, Medline and Scielo in studies published between 2004 and January 2014. The descriptors/key words used were music therapy and stress; music therapy and infertility; music therapy and assisted reproduction; music therapy and gynecology and obstetrics. The therms were searched both in Portuguese and English. Therefore, this study aims to analyze what is discussed in literature about music therapy and stress in the context of health. The study will be a base for further research in the post-graduation program about the use of music therapy on emotional stress experienced by women during assisted reproduction. Articles about correlated themes, such as gynecology and obstetrics, were also considered, trying to relate them to assisted reproduction.