Use of Virtual Reality Medical Hypnosis for Anxiolytic Purposes During Frozen Embryo Transfer

Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) procedures are often long and particularly stressful for couples. The level of anxiety appears to persist throughout the entire process, particularly during embryo transfer, a pivotal and delicate stage in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Many women apprehend this maneuver, firstly, as it represents the culmination of the process and consequently elicits apprehensions regarding negative outcome, and secondly, as it instigates anxiety related to potential discomfort during the procedure. Medical Hypnosis in Virtual Reality is a combination of hypnotherapy and immersion in a fictitious world, used in the medical field for anxiolytic and analgesic purposes. This fusion is made possible by a virtual reality headset coupled with an auditory device. The diversion and relaxation conferred by this device can lead to a reduction in perceived anxiety and an indirect enhancement of compliance and cooperation during medical procedure. Several studies have already demonstrated a benefit on pre-operative and peri-operative anxiety, with reassuring safety data on the use of this medical device. However, despite the common use of VRH in the medical field, encouraging data on anxiety reduction, and accessibility to these headsets within in certain ART departments, they are not routinely employed during embryo transfers. Various barriers to the implementation of this medical device in this indication seem to be present, encompassing organizational, technical, and practical aspects. Consequently, the Hypno-TEC study aims to assess the feasibility of using virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) headset for anxiolytic purposes during frozen embryo transfer (FET). Hypno-TEC will be a prospective interventional study, not comparative, and conducted at a single center, within the Reproductive Medicine Department of the Mother-Child-Woman Hospital in Lyon. This clinical investigation will fall under category 4.2 of medical device regulations, according to Eu