How can hypnotherapy help fertility?

Infertility affects an estimated one in seven UK couples and the diagnosis generally leaves one feeling impotent on an emotional as well as a physical level.

Potential external factors include:

• diet
• environment
• lifestyle
• physical problems
• age.

Potential internal factors include:

• chemical (hormonal) imbalances
• physiological responses
• beliefs
• emotions.

Hypnofertility - a specialised course of hypnosis treatments aimed at maximising your chances of having a baby - looks to address the impact that stress, emotions, negative beliefs and past traumas may be having on your fertility. In addition, your therapist will be able to help with any dietary or lifestyle changes that you might wish to make in order to augment success.

As well as helping those presenting with unexplained infertility to conceive naturally, treatment is also suitable for those either considering or undergoing assisted conception – such as IVF, IUI, ICSI, GIFT etc.

Stress and negative emotions

In measured doses, stress can be a positive thing! It is paramount for survival and the body’s chemical response provides us with the strength, stamina and motivation that we need in order to meet life’s demands. However when compounded by psychological stress, anxiety and negative emotions (such as fear, jealousy, frustration and low self-esteem) the sympathetic nervous system and adrenal glands - where important sex hormones are synthesised – become over-active.

In the long run this destabilises hormone production; lowers immunity (leaving us vulnerable to infections such as cystitis, urethritis and thrush); and lessens blood flow to the visceral organs - including those involved in reproduction.

How can hypnotherapy help fertility?

As well as helping to neutralise the nervous system, prolonged periods of relaxation are also seen to trigger a rise in the production of mood-altering neurotransmitters (like dopamine and serotonin).

According to a study presented to the European Society of Human Reproduction ‘deep relaxation brings about a more resourceful state of mind, encourages nervous and endocrine recuperation (restoring hormones to a level conducive to conception, pregnancy and birth) and aids in recovery from ill health’.

HypnoFertility serves to:

√ Reduce stress (a primary cause of infertility) and increase relaxation.

√ Identify and resolve emotional or psychological blocks.

√ Restore nervous, endocrine (hormonal) and immune balance.

√ Minimise negative self talk and limiting beliefs.

√ Motivate you to make necessary lifestyle changes (diet, exercise etc.).

√ Prepare for and increases the effectiveness of assisted conception treatments.

√ Improve sexual intimacy.

Interesting research

“Hypnosis can effectively double the success of IVF treatments”

Professor Levitas studied the effects of hypnosis for IVF and embryo transfer because prior studies had shown that the stress of the procedure created small contractions of the uterus thus preventing successful implantation of the fertilized egg.

Of 185 woman; 28% of those hypnotized for IVF became pregnant, compared to 14% in the control group. Tranquilizers had been used in prior studies, but nothing worked as well as hypnosis. Levitas concluded that “performing embryo transfer under hypnosis may significantly contribute to an increased clinical pregnancy rate”.

Levitas, E. et al 2006 ‘Impact of hypnosis during embryo transfer on the outcome of in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer: a case-control study .’ Fertility and Sterility Volume 85, Issue 5, Pages 1404 -1408