Massage for Infertility / Fertility - Does it help?

Can Fertility Massage help you get pregnant ??

As we sit at the one year mark of the arrival of Covid, I am back to writing blog posts, having been away from it for a while.  Not feeling especially motivated to write while the world was shuttered and a sense of gloom sort of permeating. 

Now after a year and as the world slowly re emerges to perhaps a new normal, I was inspired to write about this topic mainly because as clients start to return, I have seen and had a number of requests in a row from clients looking to massage as they experience fertility challenges. 

Infertility is on the rise.  Especially in the US.  According to one article which cites numerous statistics, infertility in the US is increasing by up to 10% per year.  Its an alarming statistic. Infertility is about as common in men as it is women, about 10%. Although infertility in men is on the rise.

Infertility and infertility complications, like miscarriages, can negatively affect a person’s overall health and quality of life. Many couples who want to start a family and are unable to conceive will experience psychological and interpersonal distress that could negatively impact their quality of life.  

• Infertility is one of the primary reasons for divorce among couples. (International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine, 2020)
• Up to 60% of infertile individuals reported psychiatric symptoms with significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than fertile individuals. (Clinical Therapeutics, 2014)
• Nearly 41% of infertile women have depression. (BMC Women’s Health, 2004)
• Almost 87% of infertile women have anxiety. (BMC Women’s Health, 2004)
• Women who get pregnant via IVF have a higher chance of giving birth prematurely. (Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2017)
  
  
  Sometimes it is difficult, even with testing to determine exactly where the issue is - and that is where massage comes in. There is no question that stress and anxiety can play a role and it is a self fulfilling prophecy; the pressure to conceive creates its own stress which can complicate matters, and it ends up being a vicious  circle.  Being fully relaxed and free from stress can increase the odds of success. 
  
  The good news is that only 10% of infertility issues are thought to be incurable - so what does that mean? Potential for success for 90 % of couples !
  
  I won't delve into the details of of the hows and whens of trying, because I have no training or insight into this - but rather turn back to what I know, which is the benefits of massage.
  
  
• It increases blood flow
  
• works on the parasympathetic nervous system
  
• relaxes muscles
  
• quiets the mind
  
• decreases levels of cortisol (also known as the stress hormone)
  
• increases serotonin and dopamine, which are thought to contribute to well-being and improved mood.
  
  Can massage help you get pregnant? Probably not in the sense of a cure. There is no science to support the idea that massage can cure infertility, but in speaking of the 90%, can it help you to relax which in turn may make your body more receptive? Yes without question. 
  
  Do you have a success story or something to add? Please feel free to leave it in the comments - I would love to hear from you.