The Benefits Of Yoga While Undergoing Fertility Treatments

In today's era of an impeccably fast life, many couples suffer infertility (not able to conceive even after 1 year of trying without precautions). Many couples opt for an IVF treatment or In Vitro Fertilisation. It is one of the types of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that works using a combination of medicines/injectable and minimal invasive procedures in order to help sperm fertilise an egg. The fertilised egg or embryo is transferred into the uterus and the woman may become pregnant if the embryo implants itself in the lining of the uterus. If you are someone undergoing an IVF treatment, then you will have to take care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Hence, it is essential to stay stress-free and be kind to yourself if you want to cope with infertility and opt for an IVF treatment. Staying positive is the most important part of any treatment, including an IVF treatment.

What Women Can Do While Undergoing An IVF Treatment

• Write down your thoughts and let go off the negative feelings (when you feel anxious or stressed).

• Try to be around your friends and family, if you are undergoing an IVF treatment as doing so can uplift your mood. Your friends and family support can help you deal with all the problems that you will encounter in the journey, as you will feel sensitive and vulnerable.

• Be positive and talk to other couples opting for IVF treatment. Communicate your feelings with your partner. This will help you to strengthen the bond. Likewise, also try to spend some quality time with each other.

• Practice activities which you enjoy like reading, listening to music, painting or gardening.

Furthermore, yoga can do the trick, if you are looking to stay relaxed while undergoing infertility treatment. Do not get paranoid, and ensure you practice mindfulness such as meditation or yoga. Manage your negative emotions or stress by opting for yoga. There have been multiple studies done in this field about the positive effects of yoga on fertility. Many fertility clinics worldwide have now incorporated yoga in their treatment cycles, known as fertility yoga.

(Also read: 5 Amazing Facial Yoga Exercises For A Firmer Face And Tighter Neck)

Yoga reduces stress and anxiety 

Benefits Of Yoga For Women Opting For Infertility Treatment

• Yoga consists of a series of exercises that are meant to enhance your overall well-being. The exercises are helpful in synchronising your mind and body. The asanas in yoga tend to include deep breathing, calming, and creating awareness of your body. It will further help you to be stress-free and less anxious.

• Yoga is a safe and effective practice that can help soothe the minds of anxious women undergoing infertility treatments, and in turn will also be able to soothe the body's stress response. The feelings of stress, anxiety, depression can be quickly dealt with the help of yoga. It can help slow down the psychological changes that occur in the women's body and can slow the heart rate and even lower one's blood pressure. Not only this, but it can also help lift up the mood.

• When one is stressed or even nervous, yoga can be helpful in calming those thoughts. If one feels overwhelmed or even worried then yoga can come to one's rescue. It tends to promote relaxation; the asanas focus on a breathing technique that is inhale and exhale that helps ward off negative thoughts to clear the mind and get rid of stress. It helps release endorphins that reduce stress and anxiety and relieves tension.

• Women may feel anxious or frustrated with their body at times. Thus, yoga can help you get back in touch with your body, understand your body in a better way, and regulate your hormonal imbalance. Furthermore, it can help women enhance their reproductive health. This is so because it tends to balance hormones, opens the hip and pelvic areas, and improves the flow of energy in one's body.

• Certain yoga asanas also helps to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and ovaries which are the most essential reproductive organs for fertility. Also, it makes your body flexible and stretches the abdominal region which increases the blood flow.

• Yoga as a regular practice also detoxifies the body by removing the toxins.

If you are ready to undergo any fertility related treatments, especially IVF, be mindful that by combining yoga, your chances of conceiving may increase.

In these unprecedented times of a pandemic, mental health and well-being is most crucial for every individual. In the time, when a couple is about to start with the most important and delicate treatment such as IVF, staying positive is of utmost importance. Try to take things easy, remain calm and relaxed. Always reach out to your doctor and speak to them about any thought you have.

Before trying any yoga asanas, you must speak to your doctor and the yoga practitioner about the asanas suitable for you in order to avoid exerting yourself.

About the author: Dr. Kalyani Shrimali is a fertility consultant in Nova IVF Fertility.

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