Infertility is a condition where a couple wants to fall pregnant, but they are struggling to hear those magic words of “you are pregnant”. In today’s post, we’ll consider how Therapeutic Reflexology may assist in infertility.
In the 21st century, it appears that infertility is a common condition because we regularly hear about couples struggling to fall pregnant. Let’s begin this post by mentioning that infertility may be temporary or it may be long-term. Sometimes a couple became pregnant with a first child, but they may be struggling to fall pregnant again with a second child. At other times a couple may be struggling to fall pregnant with the first child. Sometimes couples may struggle for months and even years with infertility and then all of a sudden they would become pregnant. It happens and there are no clear-cut guidelines because every couple and every individual person is unique and circumstances may differ.
Lumsden and Hickey (2000:234) recommend that you seek assistance if you have been trying to fall pregnant for a year or longer while having regular sexual intercourse two to three times a week. The first point of contact is usually your General Practitioner (GP) and from there you may be referred to a medical specialist if needed.
The main reasons why couples do not get pregnant according to Lumsden and Hickey (2000:234-235) are the following:
- Abnormal sperm counts;
- Absence of sperm during ejaculation;
- Abnormal ovulation;
- Problems with the fallopian tubes;
- Medical conditions like Endometriosis or cervical mucus disorders;
- A variety of causes; or
- No apparent cause.
Yes, when you read the last sentence in the above list, it is really there: Sometimes there is no apparent reason why a couple is not falling pregnant; it is sometimes unexplained, yet, it happens.
We live in times where stress levels are extremely high and where the quality of food is not always what it used to be due to the use of pesticides and chemicals and sometimes a couple just struggles to fall pregnant. If you are longing to have a baby, it is one of the most difficult conditions to deal with because not getting pregnant, often results in feelings of inadequacy that may affect your entire life.
The problem with infertility is that it can become an all-consuming problem that may even lead to you not enjoying sexual intercourse due to wanting to become pregnant so badly that you begin seeing it as a job in order to accomplish what you want. When you are in this category, it may be necessary to take a step back and consider where you are, where you have been and where you want to be; a different action plan may be needed in order to get your heart’s desire instead of lowering sexual intercourse as a mere means to an end. You have to enjoy life, even when you are struggling to fall pregnant.
If you are struggling with infertility, there are numerous options available for you, from the first contact with a GP to the infertility specialist to medication or surgery to in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). It can become an expensive ordeal, but if you are longing to have your own child or children, no money seems to be too much if your dream can just become a reality.
With all the options available to you, why even consider Therapeutic Reflexology?
There may be various reasons, but let’s consider a few:
Firstly, Therapeutic Reflexology is basically inexpensive, especially when compared to surgery or IVF, but it may be a very effective supporting therapy and many consider it in an attempt to try everything in making their dream become a reality.
Secondly, Therapeutic Reflexology is known for assisting in the infertility process as it is excellent at reducing stress (and couples dealing with infertility need lower stress levels) while increasing circulation in the body and assisting the body to balance itself from the inside out.
Thirdly, Therapeutic Reflexology is an excellent healthcare modality to be used within a multidisciplinary healthcare setting alongside other forms of treatment.
As a student, I also heard that Therapeutic Reflexology is known for assistance with infertility, but it is one thing to hear about something and to experience it. It became evident to me, even during the community service practical training years, that Therapeutic Reflexology is excellent in assisting couples with infertility. Numerous of my patients became pregnant over the years and all they changed, was to add Therapeutic Reflexology to their treatment regime.
Is this proof that Therapeutic Reflexology caused them to become pregnant? No, but it is interesting that they did become pregnant after adding Therapeutic Reflexology to their treatment. What convinced me, was the one woman that tried to fall pregnant, but due to not being able to ovulate without medical intervention, was not able to. I provided Therapeutic Reflexology to her and her husband and a few sessions later, she was officially pregnant and she did not receive any medical intervention at that stage; the only thing that changed, was adding Therapeutic Reflexology to their routine. That was one of many couples I had the privilege to work with that obtained good results.
Sometimes Therapeutic Reflexology does not have the desired results, but there is no harm in trying, and before accepting a label of “infertility”, first try everything.
As a Therapeutic Reflexologist, I regularly work with infertile couples, sometimes as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team; I always work with the wife and sometimes with the husband as well, it just depends on the requirements of the couple. What they usually experience, is a deep sense of relaxation, in the midst of the longing for a child.
It is one of the most rewarding things to become part of a couple’s life by providing them with Therapeutic Reflexology and then seeing the smiles on their faces once they fall pregnant, and often continuing Therapeutic Reflexology throughout the pregnancy and even after the birth; always amazing to seeing a child born to a couple that struggled to fall pregnant.
Are you struggling with infertility? Have you tried everything available to you yet? If you have not tried Therapeutic Reflexology, it is worth adding this healthcare modality to your treatment regime and the results may just surprise you.
Let me end this post to all infertile couples with the following words: Never give up!
References
Lumsden, M.A. & Hickey, M. (2000) Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists Complete Women’s Health. London: Thorsons.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243