Yoga can benefit couples trying to conceive: IVF Experts

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Planning for and having a baby is perhaps the most magical time for a couple. For some, however, reaching this milestone can be difficult. Many couples face challenges while trying to conceive, and for many, supporting and carrying a pregnancy to term becomes difficult. According to studies, in around 40% of infertility cases referred for In Vitro Fertilization or IVF, the root cause can be traced to anxiety or depression, and sometimes both.

The causes of infertility can range from physical damage to the reproductive organs to environmental factors like pollution. A couple's emotional and psychological health is also known to influence conception. If a couple's continuous attempts at getting pregnant are met with frustration, they become fraught with anxiety and stress. This, of course, means further attempts at conception will also most likely not succeed. The couple is then faced with the option of seeking fertility treatments at a specialized clinic. In several of these cases, where mental and emotional factors are at play, a lot of money can be saved and emotional strain avoided by simply adopting natural approaches to meet fertility challenges. Yoga is one such option.

Couples trying to conceive, and couples whose diagnosis point to stress and anxiety as a hurdle to successful pregnancy, can greatly benefit from yoga. Yoga is known to relieve stress, promote relaxation, and improve physical health. Yoga designed specifically to improve fertility tones the pelvis, reduces stress, and helps prepare the body and mind for pregnancy.

"Yoga perhaps has become the most well accepted natural remedy for couples who want to conceive naturally without going for medical procedures as it improves blood circulation, reduces muscle tension and increases body flexibility thus, relieving physical and mental stress- all of which have direct impact on fertility of couples," says Yogesh Vaidya, CEO of STG Lifecare Ltd, whose infertility guidance portal, ivfgurus.com offers free guidance to patients.

Fertility Yoga and Its Benefits:

"Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life," said B.K.S. Iyengar the foremost yoga teacher in the world.

Yoga incorporates different sets of poses that help strengthen the body, calm the mind, and maintain hormonal and physical balance in all bodily functions. It works on the entire body, including the reproductive system.

Fertility yoga uses some key poses to strengthen the endocrine system responsible for hormonal balance and the reproductive system. It helps maintain homeostasis, which is crucial in regulating and maintaining normal bodily functions. It also helps tone, soften, and open the pelvis in women, allowing release of tension in the abdomen, and free flow of energy in the area.

Yoga can help remove blockages and improve circulation in the reproductive areas. It also supports the immune system, which in turn helps the body fight infection and disease more effectively. Regular yoga promotes peace, releases muscle tension, infuses energy, and creates conditions that can boost fertility.

Several fertility specialists vouch for the benefits of yoga, and many clinics include it as a part of the holistic treatment they offer. Dr. M.L. Goenka, Director of Guwahati-based renowned and one of the oldest fertility clinic of India, Institute of Human Reproduction, says they specifically run yoga sessions for infertile couples and they have found a strong, positive correlation between yoga and fertility.