Infertility is a complex issue, and often a time of emotional turmoil. Loss & grief, anger & frustration, isolation from partners and or society are a few of the emotions that may be felt at this time.
It's important for individuals or couples to seek support and assistance if the psychological effects of infertility become to much to cope with.
It's important for individuals or couples to seek support and assistance if the psychological effects of infertility become to much to cope with.
Causes of Infertility
The causes of infertility may be loosely categorised as:
What you can do
There is plenty an individual or couple can do to support their own fertility and increase their chances of conceiving:
The causes of infertility may be loosely categorised as:
- Biological (physiological/medical/genetic)
- Psychological (emotions & attitudes, beliefs, stress management)
- Social (environmental & life stressors, socioeconomics, culture, peer relationships, family)
What you can do
There is plenty an individual or couple can do to support their own fertility and increase their chances of conceiving:
- Maintain a healthy diet (plenty of fresh, whole foods)
- Keeping a healthy weight (being over or under weight can affect your fertility)
- Stop smoking (exposure to toxins, chemicals, pesticides, radiation, heavy metals, some drugs and smoking can contribute to infertility)
- Minimise alcohol
- Minimise caffeine
- Exercise (regular moderate exercise. Can help moderate hormones, promotes healthy body and healthy mind)
- Understand your fertility cycle and work with it
- Manage stress & anxiety (stress sends our body into flight, fight or freeze mode which minimises bodily functions)
How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy can have a positive effect on infertility in a variety of ways, preparing both body and mind for conception. As each persons experience of infertility is different, the ways in which hypnotherapy can assist will vary from person to person. The applications are only limited by the imagination.
Some of the applications of hypnotherapy for infertility are:
Hypnotherapy can have a positive effect on infertility in a variety of ways, preparing both body and mind for conception. As each persons experience of infertility is different, the ways in which hypnotherapy can assist will vary from person to person. The applications are only limited by the imagination.
Some of the applications of hypnotherapy for infertility are:
- Lifestyle changes such as weight management and smoking
- Relaxation strategies for managing stress and anxiety
- Coping with emotional upheavals
- Fears or beliefs changed or put into perspective
- Negative past experiences addressed or reframed
- Self-esteem boosted
- Visualisation, mental rehearsal, future projection
- Self-hypnosis for use with any medical procedures
- Mindfulness and greater body awareness
- coping with grief and loss and potential long term implications of infertility
Sadly for some individuals or couples, infertility may mean a change to future plans and dreams. Letting go of past expectations and moving forward to a different life than previously imagined. If you are in this place, remember you are not alone. Support can be found with partners, friends, family or through professional help.
Further Resources
www.access.org.au a great site full of fact sheets and information about fertility.
www.beyondblue.org.au If those feelings of loss and grief get too much...
Further Resources
www.access.org.au a great site full of fact sheets and information about fertility.
www.beyondblue.org.au If those feelings of loss and grief get too much...