Christine Sutton. December 2017
Many couples who are trying to conceive become pregnant quite easily with a little practice and persistence. However problems with fertility are now more common than most people know. Natural fertility seems to be steadily decreasing as our lives become more hectic and the effect of poor quality foods, environmental and lifestyle factors and emotional stress all take effect.
Statistics taken from various online resources including the NHS website suggest that as many as 1 in 6 couples who are trying to conceive find that they have an unexpected problem. This situation currently affects approximately 3.5 million people in the UK and it is very distressing for people who desperately want to start a family.
Infertility is typically diagnosed if a couple have not managed to conceive within 1 year. A GP`s advice should always be sought if this is the case so that the problem can be identified. Sometimes the cause is clear and a medical solution is required e.g. blocked Fallopian tubes, uterine deformity or damage. Frequently there is no obvious reason why conception cannot occur and one or more of these factors may be the cause:
1. Age
In both women and men fertility is thought to decline progressively after the age of 35-40. We cannot do much to slow the aging process but the factors given below usually contribute significantly to the decline and they can be addressed.
2. Lifestyle, Diet and Body Mass Index (BMI)
A healthy BMI is in the range 20-25.
In women a BMI which is significantly higher or lower can disrupt the normal female cycle and make it difficult to pinpoint fertile days in the month. In men the effect is seen in development and health of sperm.
Eating more healthily, coupled with more exercise and a reduction in alcohol intake or smoking can improve both BMI and also general health and wellbeing. All of these are easy to do at a practical level provided that any emotional blocks to change are addressed.
3. Stress
This stems from various factors e.g. work problems, family and relationship issues, financial problems, bereavement, ill health and chronic lack of sleep. It is a fact that most people are stressed to some degree most of the time.
When any potential threat is perceived the body only reacts in one way - the Sympathetic nervous system is activated to stimulate the body for the Fight, Flight or Freeze reaction. Once the danger has passed the “calm-down” process is mediated by the Parasympathetic nervous system and the body returns to normal. This is ancient programming which we share with all other animals and it has served us well for millennia.
The problem in modern life is that in most of us the Flight/Fight/Freeze reaction is triggered frequently by events which do not really pose a threat to life e.g. an argument or a social embarrassment. Many people live with the FFF reaction chronically activated. The body “forgets” how to turn it off and this state of constant stress becomes the new norm. This has serious consequences for all body systems including the reproductive system, the nervous system and the endocrine (Hormonal) system.
How can Complementary Therapies help?
Complementary therapies are intended to support and enhance the natural healing processes of body and mind and open new doorways to well-being and personal development.
Techniques for General Relaxation and rebalancing of energy– e.g. Mindfulness Meditation, Reiki, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Acupressure.
These can aid relaxation and restore ability to recognise what is and is not really a threat and then encourage a return to the normal, non-stressed state. They can work in a general way, using a whole body approach or the work can be more focused as in Reproductive Reflexology where specific protocols can be used to focus work onto the reproductive and endocrine systems.
Techniques for dealing with Emotional disturbances – e.g. Emotional Freedom Technique.
This works in a more focused way by identifying emotional issues related to a stressed lifestyle and dealing with them at source so that they no longer disrupt well-being. Eliminating emotional disruptions, including any resistance to making changes, automatically enhances ability to reconnect with the upper levels of the emotional scale where Love and Joy exist. When that connection is re-established the phenomenal healing mechanisms of the body can swing into action without interference and correct whatever imbalances are present in the physical systems.
Typical results of working with dietary, lifestyle and emotional factors are:
- Establishment of a regular menstrual cycle in women.
- An increase in sperm production and health in men.
- Elimination of emotional conflicts and emotional blocks to conception
- An increase in general well-being
- An improvement in the health of relationships with partners
- An increased ability to deal with stress factors effectively
For some couples adjusting diet and lifestyle and working with complementary therapies while trying to conceive has made the difference between failure and success.
It may work for you!