You may wonder how hypnotherapy help with fertility issues.  This blog will give you more information and answer some questions about fertility.

When we are stressed or anxious, our body releases adrenaline which inhibits the production of progesterone needed to maintain a healthy uterus.  Additionally, when we are stressed or anxious, energy is directed to the systems necessary to keep us alive and therefore away from the reproductive system.  The hypothalamus regulates our stress hormones and links our nervous system to the endocrine system.  Therefore stress can have an impact on the healthy balance of the reproductive system.

Hypnotherapy can help with fertility by reducing stress and anxiety in our daily lives. This  allows us to move from our sympathetic nervous system – the fight or flight mode to our parasympathetic nervous system – the rest and relax mode.  Hypnotherapy can also help clients with feelings of failure or helplessness.  It can build self esteem, improve clear thinking and help our clients cope better with their daily life.

As a HypnoPregnancy Practitioner, I can help you in your fertility, pregnancy and birthing journey.  Book a free consultation with me to find out more.

What is infertility?

Infertility is a reproductive disease that is defined as failure to achieve clinical pregnancy with 12 months of regular unprotected sex.  It affects 48 million couples globally and in the UK it is estimated that 1 in 7 couples experience infertility

What are the physical causes of infertility in women?

The physical causes of infertility in women include:

• Ovulation issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome or an over or underachieve thyroid or premature ovarian failure
• Scarring or damage from surgery causing damage to the fallopian tubes or womb
• Cervical mucus problems causing the sperm to not be able to swim easily
• Endometriosis which is a condition when the womb lining grows in other places such as the ovaries.  This can damage the ovaries or fallopian tube
• PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which is an infection of the upper genital tract.  This can damage and scar the fallopian tubes, making the passage of the egg to the womb very difficult
• Long term use of medicines and drugs such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicine and antipsychotic medicine.  Medicine to treat fluid retention such as Spironolactone can also cause infertility during use.  In addition illegal drugs such as cocaine and marijuana can cause infertility

What are the physical causes of infertility in men?

Physical causes of infertility in men include:

• Infection causing damage or injury to the testicles
• Ejaculation disorders
• Low levels of testosterone – Hypogonadism
• Medicines and drugs sun as anti-inflammatory medication for Crohn’s disease and arthritis.  This will improve once the medication is stopped.  Anabolic steroids and chemotherapy medication can also cause infertility in men, as can illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.

What is Assisted Reproduction and what are the main treatments offered?

Assisted reproduction is the use of medical intervention to aid fertility.  The treatments offered include In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), assisted reproduction such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and Intracervical Insemination (ICI )and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

IVF includes the stimulation of ovaries, collection of the eggs and sperm and the fertilisation of eggs outside of the womb.  The fertilised eggs (one or two) are then placed into the womb.  Women under 40 are generally offered 3 cycles of IVF and women over 40 are offered one cycle.

IUI/ ICI

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is when the sperm is placed inside the woman’s womb.

Intracervical Insemination (ICI) is when the sperm is placed in the woman’s cervix.  IUI provides a higher rate of success and is offered if sex is not possible or if there is a sexually transmitted infection.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is used alongside IVF.  The sperm is injected directly into the egg.  It is generally used when the sperm is not capable of naturally fertilising the the egg, for example due to a low sperm count, poor quality of sperm or no sperm produced.

What is meant by a cycle in IVF?

A cycle in IVF starts with the hormonal stimulation of ovaries to produce eggs.  These are collected and fertilised outside of the body.  One or two are then placed into the womb and the remaining good quality embryos can be frozen.  This is known as one cycle.