What Steps Can You Take To Relax Your Mind and Body, Before IVF Treatment?
Before going through IVF treatment, it’s important to know that it’s an emotionally and physically challenging process.
It’s therefore wise to be as prepared as possible, both mentally and physically, before you start. There are variety of ways that this can be achieved, some of which we will explore here.
Ask questions and find out information
Being well-informed and knowledgeable about each stage of the process is a great way to build your confidence and ease your mind. No question is a daft question, so feel free to ask your doctor or fertility specialist anything you want to know. We also have lots of information here at the IVF Network, through our dedicated channel of experts, our website and our blog, to answer lots of questions that you may have when you are starting out and along the way.
How counselling can help
Going through counselling before starting IVF, can help you to come to terms with any feelings of loss, grief, sadness, disappointment or envy, that you may already have experienced during your fertility journey. Recognising and acknowledging difficult emotions can help you to move forward positively and be better prepared for what lies ahead.
Counselling can also help you to learn to talk more openly about your feelings, which can help to open lines of communication during the IVF process, both with your partner (if you have one) and with others who can support you.
Make time and space for yourself
The IVF process is demanding, in terms of time and energy, with appointments, injections and various timings to adhere to, to give yourself the best chance of success. Getting into the habit of learning to take time out for yourself and do things that you enjoy before you start IVF, will help you to continue to do so once you’ve started the process.
Alternative and complementary therapies
There are a wide range of therapies available that can be used before and/or during IVF treatment, that are widely believed to be beneficial for individuals and couples wanting to conceive.
Many of these therapies focus on the benefits of relaxation. Although stress alone is unlikely to cause infertility, infertility can cause stress and it’s possible that this can then have a negative impact on a couple’s chances of conceiving.
It is very important when considering trying any therapies, that you speak to your GP or fertility specialist beforehand and also make sure that you will be working with someone trained and knowledgeable.
Not all of the therapies and activities listed here are suitable for all stages of the IVF cycle, so be sure to seek advice first:
Acupuncture – a holistic treatment that involves inserting needles into acupuncture points on the body, helping to relieve tension and stimulate energy flow. It can increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus and also to the male reproductive organs, so it is believed to be beneficial to the fertility of both men and women.