Fertility
Experiencing fertility issues can be a highly stressful and tense time for both partners. There is no doubt that stress can play a significant factor in an individuals ability to conceive. That is why it is often preferable to focus on the issues of stress for the first few weeks or months. By taking this approach and helping with any appropriate lifestyle changes, a number of women may get pregnant simply because they have been able to reduce their anxieties and improve their health. This reduction in stress levels may have a positive impact on their endocrine system.
A course of reflexology treatments for couples with fertility issues would work mainly on two areas. Stress management and hormone balancing. Ideally both the male and female partners would have treatments, particularly in cases of unexplained infertility.
A typical treatment for the woman would include 2 or 3 hormone based treatments starting on Day 1 of the menstrual cycle and finishing just before ovulation. The purpose of this is to ensure that the hormones are balanced, ovulation occurs at the optimum time, the fallopian tubes are clear and that the uterus is prepared to receive an embryo. After ovulation, the hormones are left alone so as not to disturb a potential pregnancy. From this point onwards, stress management is the main focus. For the man, the reflexology treatments focus on reducing stress so that sperm quality can be optimised.
It must be made clear that Reflexology does not claim to cure causes of fertility issues. However, it has been found to be a contributing factor in many successful cases.
Reflexology and hormone imbalance.
Reflexology seems to have a very positive effect on balancing hormone levels.
These include:
Scientific Evidence : It is suggested that stress affects fertility by compromising the hormones needed for reproduction 2. Reflexology has been proved scientifically to reduce stress 3 therefore improving the conditions needed to conceive.
Reflexology & Assisted Conception
If you are undergoing fertility treatment, Reflexology is not known to have any detrimental or negative effect on this treatment.
Perhaps you are going through fertility investigations right now or are about to embark upon an assisted conception programme like IVF. Many couples describe this as 'an emotional roller coaster' but reflexology can help you to stay calm and positive through the ups and downs of treatment and support you along each stage of your journey.
Reflexology can be particularly beneficial in the time leading up to egg collection and embryo transfer. Treatment sessions will encourage relaxation and alleviate anxiety, helping to reduce stress hormones, which may improve your chances of success.
It can take 3 months for changes to the body to affect egg and sperm quality. Therefore it is advised that you plan to have reflexology well in advance of any assisted conception treatments. But don’t worry if you have only a short time before your IVF treatment starts, reducing stress levels beforehand is still beneficial.
Some useful links
Daily Mail - Is reflexology the new cure infertility?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-20980/Is-reflexology-new-cure-infertility.html
Daily Mail - Reflexology: can it aid fertility?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-172952/Reflexology-aid-fertility.html
The Independent - Hospital tries Reflexology to boost fertility
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/hospital-tries-reflexology-to-boost-fertility-634230.html
The relationship between stress and infertility
http://www.conceivethepossibility.com/research.html
Experiencing fertility issues can be a highly stressful and tense time for both partners. There is no doubt that stress can play a significant factor in an individuals ability to conceive. That is why it is often preferable to focus on the issues of stress for the first few weeks or months. By taking this approach and helping with any appropriate lifestyle changes, a number of women may get pregnant simply because they have been able to reduce their anxieties and improve their health. This reduction in stress levels may have a positive impact on their endocrine system.
A course of reflexology treatments for couples with fertility issues would work mainly on two areas. Stress management and hormone balancing. Ideally both the male and female partners would have treatments, particularly in cases of unexplained infertility.
A typical treatment for the woman would include 2 or 3 hormone based treatments starting on Day 1 of the menstrual cycle and finishing just before ovulation. The purpose of this is to ensure that the hormones are balanced, ovulation occurs at the optimum time, the fallopian tubes are clear and that the uterus is prepared to receive an embryo. After ovulation, the hormones are left alone so as not to disturb a potential pregnancy. From this point onwards, stress management is the main focus. For the man, the reflexology treatments focus on reducing stress so that sperm quality can be optimised.
It must be made clear that Reflexology does not claim to cure causes of fertility issues. However, it has been found to be a contributing factor in many successful cases.
Reflexology and hormone imbalance.
Reflexology seems to have a very positive effect on balancing hormone levels.
These include:
- regulation of the menstrual cycle
- a return of the menstrual cycle (for those with amenorrhoea)
- less bloating, irritability and other PMS symptoms
- less discomfort for those with dysmenorrhoea (a symptom of Endometriosis)
- a more condensed menstrual flow
Scientific Evidence : It is suggested that stress affects fertility by compromising the hormones needed for reproduction 2. Reflexology has been proved scientifically to reduce stress 3 therefore improving the conditions needed to conceive.
Reflexology & Assisted Conception
If you are undergoing fertility treatment, Reflexology is not known to have any detrimental or negative effect on this treatment.
Perhaps you are going through fertility investigations right now or are about to embark upon an assisted conception programme like IVF. Many couples describe this as 'an emotional roller coaster' but reflexology can help you to stay calm and positive through the ups and downs of treatment and support you along each stage of your journey.
Reflexology can be particularly beneficial in the time leading up to egg collection and embryo transfer. Treatment sessions will encourage relaxation and alleviate anxiety, helping to reduce stress hormones, which may improve your chances of success.
It can take 3 months for changes to the body to affect egg and sperm quality. Therefore it is advised that you plan to have reflexology well in advance of any assisted conception treatments. But don’t worry if you have only a short time before your IVF treatment starts, reducing stress levels beforehand is still beneficial.
Some useful links
Daily Mail - Is reflexology the new cure infertility?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-20980/Is-reflexology-new-cure-infertility.html
Daily Mail - Reflexology: can it aid fertility?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-172952/Reflexology-aid-fertility.html
The Independent - Hospital tries Reflexology to boost fertility
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/hospital-tries-reflexology-to-boost-fertility-634230.html
The relationship between stress and infertility
http://www.conceivethepossibility.com/research.html
