The program reduced women’s stress through teaching coping-skills training, shifting to the relaxation response, guided imagery, gentle yoga stretching, good nutrition, education in topics pertinent to fertility, and support from other women in the group.

The results were very positive with significant reductions in anxiety, anger, and depression, and an increase in vitality and wellbeing. Although the program was designed only to reduce stress, statistics compiled from the nearly 300 women who completed the program indicated that 57 percent of them became pregnant within six months of completing the ten-week course. This certainly shows that reducing stress can be beneficial in decreasing infertility.

Stress-management programs with a psychologist or psychiatrist can reduce depression, anxiety, anger, and fatigue, commonly part of the lives of people struggling with infertility. Stress-management programs do not cure infertility. But mind-body approaches that reduce anxiety and increase relaxation can help couples with unexplained infertility. Reducing stress may help normalize menstrual cycles, improve the health of both egg and sperm, and increase the likelihood of fertilization and implantation. Reduced stress also means an improved quality of relationships and life for the couple.

Professional help may be necessary if you find yourself constantly feeling sad, desperate, worthless, or inadequate. Other signs indicating a need for professional counseling are lack of motivation, withdrawal from social activities, feeling overly sensitive, vulnerable, or guilty, and having suicidal thoughts. In addition to the emotional signs of depression, there are several biological and physical signs that you should look for. If you’re having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or if you’re waking up early and being unable to go back to sleep, this could signal depression. Other signs are excessive increase in or loss of appetite, loss of sexual desire, and fatigue.

You might also want to seek help if you and your partner are unable to communicate with each other about your infertility and its treatment, and if you’re having difficulty coping with extreme anger or resentment. Counseling can help you honestly examine your feelings, determine your priorities, and improve your coping skills.

Massage can add many stress reduction benefits to your health. It improves circulation, which increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to body tissues. It can be used to enhance selfesteem, while boosting the circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion, and skin tone. Massage helps to relax the mind, body and spirit, providing time and space for self, and a feeling of peace, calm and well-being.

Acupuncture To enhance your success rates and experience at our facility, we are now offering acupuncture treatments that can be used in conjunction with your fertility procedure for stress reduction and potentially increase the rate of success.

Acupuncture is a method of natural healing that encourages the body to improve overall functioning. The acupuncture treatment itself consists of the insertion of tiny thread-like needles into specific points on the body. Classical Chinese theory states that stimulation of acupuncture points facilitates the movement of energy or qi (chi) to release blocked energy and regulate areas of deficiency. Basically, it helps correct internal imbalances in the body. In modern medical science, research suggests that acupuncture acts as a stimulus to the nervous system, prompting it to send messages to the muscles, spinal cord and brain to correct these internal imbalances and encourage healing. More specifically, acupuncture stimulates specific nerve fibers to carry electrical impulses back to the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates hormones and releases neurotransmitters like dopamine, adrenaline, and serotonin. These effects enhance and activate the body’s ability to heal itself, promoting physical and mental health.

For women acupuncture has shown positive effects on:

For men acupuncture may: