CRGW have partnered with The Wellbeing Centre in Whitchurch to offer Reflexology and Y Clinic Bach in Penarth to offer Acupuncture for patients trying to conceive either naturally or via IVF, ICSI and IUI. It’s available at CRGW in Llantrisant also, where we offer a dedicated and comfortable environment for patients to undergo acupuncture and reflexology treatments that may enhance their chances of conception.
Holistic support through complementary therapy
The team at The Wellbeing Centre and Y Clinic Bach have a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Support is available before, during and after the IVF process and they have helped many patients at different times during their fertility journeys over the years.
Acupuncture for fertility
Acupuncture works by rebalancing the body’s flow of energy and, by inserting fine needles at specific points, the acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response. This can include benefits for people experiencing fertility issues. Acupuncture may be able to help by regulating fertility hormones, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and counteracting the effects of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Reflexology for fertility
Reflexology is proven to reduce stress and anxiety, encouraging the body to work more efficiently and potentially creating a healthier environment for possible pregnancy to occur. Specifically, it may help with many of the medical conditions associated with fertility issues, such as endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids and unexplained infertility.
How to book?
To find out more and book your appointment please get in touch:
Reflexology: louise@wellbeingtherapycentre.com
Telephone: 02921 880480
Website: www.wellbeingtherapycentre.com
Acupuncture: eirianheslop@gmail.com
Telephone: 07795 174036
Website: www.yclinicbach.co.uk
Acupuncture
Over five thousand years ago, the Chinese discovered the complex relationship between stimulating a point on the skin to influence a particular organ or organ pathway. Acupuncture uses thin sterile disposable needles that are inserted into acupuncture points to cause an effect in the body. In acupuncture, the practitioner treats not just the symptoms, but the whole person — body, mind and spirit.
Potential benefits of acupuncture treatments for reproductive health:
- Improve the function of the ovaries to produce higher quality eggs
- Regulate the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles
- Increase blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness of the uterine lining
- Relax and de-stress
- Prevent uterine contraction post–IVF embryo transfer
- Reduce the side effects of IVF medications
- Strengthen the immune system and increase energy
- Improve sperm count, motility, and morphology, and reduce sperm DNA fragmentation
- Increase chance of conceiving
- Decrease chance of miscarriage
Reflexology
Reflexology has its origins in China & Ancient Egypt. Reflexologists believe that the feet are the mirror of the human body and that different parts of the feet relate to different organs and glands within the body. Reflexology involves a method of treatment using massage to reflex areas found in the feet and the hands.
In the feet, there are reflex areas corresponding to all the parts of the body and these areas are arranged in such a way as to form a map of the body in the feet with the right foot corresponding to the right side of the body and the left foot corresponding to the left.
By having the whole body represented in the feet, the method offers a holistic treatment allowing not only symptoms to be treated but also the causes of symptoms.
Reflexology does not claim to be a ‘cure-all’ but very many different disorders, such as hormonal imbalances, tension and stress have been successfully treated by this method.
Several studies have looked at reflexology and improvement in fertility and have not found any benefit with reflexology.1,2
1. Holt J, Lord J, Acharya U, White A, O’Neill N, Shaw S, Barton A. Fertil Steril. 2009 Jun;91(6):2514-9. Epub 2008 Jun 20.
2. Ernst E. Med J Aust. 2009 Sep 7;191(5):263-6.
Meditation/Relaxation/Hypnotherapy
Clinical Hypnotherapy can be used to help prepare you mentally, emotionally and physically for IVF. This preparation can range from positive lifestyle changes, changing limiting beliefs to eliminating a needle phobia together with visualisation and imagery techniques can help to prepare some people for IVF or other fertility treatment.
There are numerous meditation and relaxation classes, CDs and VHS/DVDs on the market, all focusing on the core principles of deep breathing, quieting the mind and reducing muscle tension. Some people find it easier to learn meditation under the guidance of an expert, while others prefer to meditate in the privacy of their homes. In a supported and safe environment hypnotherapy can help reduce the levels of stress and anxiety by increasing relaxation, and removing emotional blocks .
The exact link between fertility and stress is not clear but it is thought hormones play a key role. An article in the journal Human Reproduction describes how pregnancy rates were reported in couples that reported stress with those who did not. They discovered that pregnancy was much more likely to occur when couples reported feeling good, relaxed and happy, and was less likely if they reported feeling tense or anxious.
According to a study presented to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology Conference in Berlin in July of 2004, it suggests that the use of hypnosis during embryo transfer may significantly improve the cycle outcome in terms of increased implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Furthermore, it seems that the patients’ attitude to the treatment was more favourable.