Infertility Treatment Alternatives: Fertility Hypnosis
One type of alternative infertility treatment that is gaining popularity is fertility hypnosis. Also known as hypnotherapy, hypnosis has been used to alleviate a variety of health problems and is now being pursued by individuals who want to improve their chances of getting pregnant. But what exactly is fertility hypnosis and how can this type of hypnotherapy help improve one's fertility?
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a form of treatment in which therapeutic mental suggestions are used in order to induce a state of relaxation in the patient so as to treat an illness, disease or other such condition that is having adverse effects on an individual's health.
During a hypnotherapy session, a hypnotist will ask the patient to stay focused on her breathing and to clear her mind of thoughts that are troubling. While the patient will be in a receptive state, she will still be in control of her mental and physical processes.
In addition to individual hypnotist sessions, a hypnotist may also prescribe at home relaxation techniques, which typically include the following:
- relaxation: preparing the mind and body to enter a state of calm
- deepening: counting oneself down to a state of increasing relaxation
- suggestions: repeating positive statements related to the goal of treatment
- ending: bringing oneself back to a fully alert state
What Can Hypnotherapy Be Used to Treat
In addition to fertility problems, hypnotherapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- insomnia
- stress
- anxiety
- panic disorders
- headaches
- irritable bowel syndrome
Fertility Hypnosis: How Hypnotherapy Can Treat Fertility Problems
A recent study found that the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment doubled from 14 to 28% in patients that underwent hypnosis during implantation. The study included 185 women.
Hypnotherapy works to help treat infertility by reducing stress and anxiety levels that adversely affect a woman's ability to conceive and to have a healthy pregnancy. Hypnosis can be particularly helpful in treating cases of unexplained infertility.
Fertility hypnosis is based on psychobiology, which studies the relationship between the mind and body. This science states that there is a relationship between the physical readiness of genes and the ability of conception to occur. As such, the activation of certain genes in a particular order, such as the IL-1 gene and the CYP17 gene, can help improve an individual's chances of conceiving.
Generally, six to ten hypnotherapy sessions conducted at weekly intervals are required in order to be effective, although the number of sessions required depends on your individual case.
When looking for a hypnotherapist, ask for referrals from your health care provider, or friends or family and be sure to check that the hypnotherapist has the proper qualifications.
