Fertility

The majority of people can get pregnant naturally within a year or two, but for some its not that easy.

A doctor or consultant can help with any physical issues, but for about a quarter of all couples who struggle with fertility there is no known physical cause.

The is growing evidence that stress has a huge impact on fertility – and I can help with that.

Lifestyle can also play a significant part in your ability to conceive, if we are less stressed we are able to make better decisions about our lifestyle too.

How can Hypnotherapy help?

  • Reducing stress
  • Reducing depression
  • Increasing feelings of calm and relaxation
  • Restoring physical, mental and emotional balance and wellbeing
  • Helping you make any lifestyle changes that are advised

Women with depression, when treated showed a 60% viable pregnancy rate within six months, contrasting with 24% when depression went untreated.     Journal of American Medical Women’s Association,1999,vol 54

What difference can being less stressed make?

Stress causes tremendous changes in the body’s biochemistry and rhythms.

Along with impacting overall health, stress or anxiety over a prolonged period of time can disrupt the production of the hormones needed for ovulation, implantation and sperm quality.

Since the body’s priority is to keep us out of danger when we are experiencing a threat or stress, taking care of a foetus would only put us under unnecessary strain.

The hypothalamus regulates both the stress response as well as the sex hormones, which is why excessive stress can lead to anovulation, irregular menstrual cycles, and in more severe cases, to complete suppression of the menstrual cycle.

Adrenaline is released by the adrenals when we’re stressed. Adrenaline helps us escape from danger but it also inhibits the production of progesterone, which is essential for building and maintaining a lining of the uterus, thus impeding fertility.

Prolactin (usually released by the pituitary gland to stimulate lactation in preparation for nursing) inhibits a woman’s fertility so she’ll be less likely to conceive during breast feeding. During times of stress, the pituitary emits high levels of prolactin.

After prolonged stress the sympathetic nervous system can become hyper-stimulated. A hyper-stimulated nervous system sends less blood to the uterus and ovaries, thereby impairing their optimal functioning (Lewis 2004)

Poor sleep effects our physical health – like water from a burst pipe in your home, the effects of sleep deprivation will seep into every nook and cranny of biology, down into your cells, even altering your most fundamental self – your DNA. (Prof Matthew Walker)

For as long as a state of insufficient sleep last, and for some time thereafter the body remains stuck in some degree of a fight or flight state.

When we’re tired we are moody and irritable, over time it can disrupt your relationship….which can lead to fewer opportunities for pregnancy to occur

Lack of sleep increase our risk of diseases and conditions that can affect fertility – diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity etc etc

What difference does Lifestyle make?

Creating balance in our lifestyle is about reducing the habits that cause harm to us and increasing the activities that increase wellbeing. This includes work/life balance.

The following lifestyle changes will have a positive effect on fertility:

  • Stop smoking: smokers are 50% more likely to miscarry and men who smoke have a lower sperm count and a 20% decrease in sperm motility.
  • Stop drinking alcohol: alcohol may affect fertility and sperm quality. Even moderate drinking (less than three units a day) will decrease the chances of conception.
  • Eliminate drugs: cocaine constricts blood vessels and so can affect the placenta and cause menstrual irregularities. Marijuana lowers sperm count, decreases sperm motility and lowers testosterone in males.
  • Reduce caffeine: caffeine increases the chances of miscarriage and may increase the risk of developing endometriosis.
  • Avoid saunas: anything that raises the temperature of a man’s testicles can decrease sperm production and motility.
  • Exercise gently: some research has suggested that vigorous exercise (raising heart rate over 110 beats per minute) may decrease chances of conception. (Domar and Kelly, 2002,p271)

If fertility is proving a challenge for you then get in touch, we can have a chat on the phone or if you prefer, book an appointment for an Initial Consultation.