For couples undergoing the serious process of fertility treatments, a little levity can be welcome both emotionally and now, it turns out, scientifically. According to a recent study published in “Fertility and Sterility”, clowns may have a markedly positive impact on the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer.



With that in mind, Medical Director of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Reproductive Centre Dr. Hananel Holzer will be welcoming two professionally-trained Israeli medical clowns to the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology today.



With big red noses and a comedic disposition, clowns Jerome Arous and Nimrod Eisenberg, will be making hopeful future parents smile and laugh with the goal of improving the chances their embryonic transfers will take. According to the study, such efforts have helped increase the success rate from 20 to 36 percent.

Arous and Eisenberg graduated with B.A.s in Theatre and Therapy for Medical Clowns from Haifa University in Israel. Both have honed their clowning techniques by studying in Paris at Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq. Eisenberg also studied in Padua at Kiklos Theatre.

The two clowns who have been travelling across Canada will be performing for willing patients undergoing IVF treatment at the MUHC. The MUHC has frequently drawn on the services of medical clowns, collaborating with Montreal-based organization “Dr. Clown”.

Could it be part of the program?  Maybe, although there are no plans right now and these clowns are just visiting guests. 

Israeli medical clowns Jerome Arous and Nimrod Eisenberg also visited the studio you can listen to our interview on the player below the picture.

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