NYTimes.com Article: Fertility: A Study Prayer and Pregnancy

[Guest guest]

Fertility: A Study Links Prayer and Pregnancy

 

October 2, 2001

 

By ERIC NAGOURNEY

 

Researchers at Columbia University, expressing surprise at

their own findings, are reporting that women at an in vitro

fertilization clinic in Korea had a higher pregnancy rate

when, unknown to the patients, total strangers were asked

to pray for their success.

 

[i wonder what would happen if total strangers would just pray that I'd

score. Gary]

 

The findings are in the current Journal of Reproductive

Health.

 

The researchers found that women who were prayed for became

pregnant twice as often as those who did not have people

praying for them.

 

The lead author of the report, Dr. Rogerio A. Lobo,

Columbia's chairman of obstetrics and gynecology, said he

and his colleagues had thought long and hard about whether

to publish their findings, since they seemed so improbable.

In the end, the differing pregnancy rates between the two

groups of women proved too significant to ignore.

 

" It was not even something that was borderline

significant, " Dr. Lobo said. " It was highly significant.

And still I am not willing to say that this is the

definitive answer, that there is definitely an

association. "

 

Dr. Lobo said the idea for the study came from a colleague

and co-author, Dr. Kwang Y. Cha, a researcher at Cha

Hospital in Seoul.

 

The study involved 199 women who went to Cha Hospital in

1998 and 1999 for help becoming pregnant.

 

None knew about the study, and the medical staff caring for

them also was unaware of it.

 

The researchers gave members of different Christian

denominations in the United States, Canada and Australia

photographs of the patients and asked them to pray. One

group was asked to pray directly on behalf of the women, a

second group directed its prayers to help the first group,

and a third prayed for the two other groups.

 

Earlier studies suggested that prayer by strangers also

seemed to help heart patients.

 

<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/02/health/womenshealth/02FRET.html?ex=100329

525 & ei=1 & en=f7902c4b6b39c95d>

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Gary,

 

If they are really daring, they'll re-run the

experiment with prayers for spontaneous

abortions.

 

Rob

 

 

-

" Gary Schouborg " <garyscho

" sjo " <companeros-westcoast >; " Liberation Group () "

<libn >; " Realization "

<Realization >

Friday, October 26, 2001 12:23 PM

NYTimes.com Article: Fertility: A Study Links Prayer and

Pregnancy

 

 

>

> Fertility: A Study Links Prayer and Pregnancy

>

> October 2, 2001

>

> By ERIC NAGOURNEY

>

> Researchers at Columbia University, expressing surprise at

> their own findings, are reporting that women at an in vitro

> fertilization clinic in Korea had a higher pregnancy rate

> when, unknown to the patients, total strangers were asked

> to pray for their success.

>

> [i wonder what would happen if total strangers would just pray that I'd

> score. Gary]

>

> The findings are in the current Journal of Reproductive

> Health.

>

> The researchers found that women who were prayed for became

> pregnant twice as often as those who did not have people

> praying for them.

>

> The lead author of the report, Dr. Rogerio A. Lobo,

> Columbia's chairman of obstetrics and gynecology, said he

> and his colleagues had thought long and hard about whether

> to publish their findings, since they seemed so improbable.

> In the end, the differing pregnancy rates between the two

> groups of women proved too significant to ignore.

>

> " It was not even something that was borderline

> significant, " Dr. Lobo said. " It was highly significant.

> And still I am not willing to say that this is the

> definitive answer, that there is definitely an

> association. "

>

> Dr. Lobo said the idea for the study came from a colleague

> and co-author, Dr. Kwang Y. Cha, a researcher at Cha

> Hospital in Seoul.

>

> The study involved 199 women who went to Cha Hospital in

> 1998 and 1999 for help becoming pregnant.

>

> None knew about the study, and the medical staff caring for

> them also was unaware of it.

>

> The researchers gave members of different Christian

> denominations in the United States, Canada and Australia

> photographs of the patients and asked them to pray. One

> group was asked to pray directly on behalf of the women, a

> second group directed its prayers to help the first group,

> and a third prayed for the two other groups.

>

> Earlier studies suggested that prayer by strangers also

> seemed to help heart patients.

>

> <http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/02/health/womenshealth/02FRET.html?ex=100329

> 525 & ei=1 & en=f7902c4b6b39c95d>

>

> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

> This clipping service is provided by Metanexus: The Online Forum on Religion

> and Science <http://www.metanexus.net>. To comment on this article, go to

> the browser-based forum at the bottom of all postings for our magazine on

> our web site at <http://www.metanexus.net>. Metanexus also publishes NEWS

> with announcements of events and opportunities, VIEWS with commentaries and

> book reviews, and MONTHLY with a monthly digest, as well as hosting a

> variety of discussion lists. Please send all URLs, inquiries, and

> submissions to Dr. Stacey Ake, Associate Editor of Metanexus at

> ake.

>

>

>

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