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If you’re TTC, you know how psychologically challenging it can be.
Emerging research is teaching us about the negative impact stress can have on hormone production when you are preparing to conceive. Leading fertility researchers and clinicians are now encouraging their patients to tap into the power of the mind-body connection to reduce stress and improve the chances of conception.
Their recommendation for patients undergoing fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF)? Meditation.
According to fertility specialists Dr. Jaime Knopman and Dr. Sheeva Talebian of CCRM Fertility New York, meditation during IVF “can help decrease stress” during IVF treatments and “find the resilience you need to get through the process.”
Let’s dig into the science behind these claims to understand how fertility meditation can set you on the path for a happier and healthier fertility journey.
Balanced Hormones
Nothing has a greater impact on fertility than hormone balance. Diet and exercise are two common ways to support hormone balance during pregnancy but did you know that meditation also influences important hormone centers in the brain?
Studies show that meditation can promote hormone balance and help you conceive, so if you’re looking for another way to manage and balance your hormones while TTC, meditation is easy, effective, and accessible: you can practice anywhere, anytime, in just a few minutes a day.
Reduced Stress
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While some women tolerate IVF and fertility medication with limited side effects, others report fatigue, disrupted sleep, increased stress, and mood changes. Unfortunately, these side-effects can have an impact on your ability to conceive: in a study of women undergoing IVF treatment, anxiety and depression were shown to negatively affect fertility.
To alleviate stress during the IVF process, Drs. Knopman and Talebian recommend “acupuncture, meditation and support groups” to their patients. “Community makes the whole process easier,” they added.
Practicing regular meditation and mindfulness is proven to support stress management skills, benefit your psychological health, and support conception4. Whether you are new to or experienced in meditation, guided meditations can be the most supportive way to reduce stress while TTC because the voice of your meditation guide connects you to a sense of community and shared experience.
Guided Meditation for Fertility
Expectful, a guided meditation app, is working to change the way we think about the mind-body connection when it comes to reproductive health by making guided meditation for fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum accessible to everyone.
Expectful’s dedicated “Preparing to Conceive” library includes meditations for navigating the two-week wait, emotional self-care, overcoming challenges, and now IVF meditation journeys created in partnership with CCRM Fertility, a global pioneer in fertility science, research, and treatment that offers access to a network of physicians, fertility services, technologies, and state-of-the-art labs.
To create this innovative series that supports traditional IVF treatments, CCRM Fertility invited Expectful’s meditation experts into their fertility centers to speak directly to patients in different stages of their journey and get an intimate understanding of IVF treatment to develop this ground-breaking meditation series for fertility patients.
The result was eleven new IVF meditations designed to support hopeful parents through every step of the Egg Harvesting and Embryo Transfer phases, including meditations for:
- Overcoming Fear of Injections
- Egg Production Without Fear
- Waiting in Presence
- Embracing Joy
Through this collaboration, thousands of patients receiving care with CCRM Fertility will now have access to Expectful’s IVF Meditation Journeys so they can care for their mind and body when preparing to conceive.
“At CCRM Fertility, we like to take a holistic path to treatment to ensure our patients have the smoothest path to pregnancy and to maximize their chances of bringing home a baby,” said Dr. Talebian. “We’re really excited to collaborate with Expectful to offer patients an accessible and convenient approach to mindfulness to help navigate the emotional challenges of the IVF journey.”
Whether you want to welcome hope into your TTC journey, treat yourself with love and compassion, or process results during treatment, these new meditations are now at your fingertips in the Expectful App.
Are you ready to have a happier and healthier fertility journey?
Click here for a special offer: an extended 30-day free trial of Expectful.
References
Greene, Robert A., and Laurie Tarkan. Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant. 334p., 2008. Google Books. Web. 3 Aug. 2016.
Infante, J. R., Torres-Avisbal, M., Pinel, P., Vallejo, J. A., Peran, F., Gonzalez, F., Contreras, P., Pacheco, C., Latre, J.M., Roldan, A. (2001). Catecholamine levels in practitioners of the transcendental meditation technique [abstract]. Physiology & Behavior, 72(1-2), 141-146. doi:10.1016/s0031-9384(00)00386-3.
Campagne, D. M. (2006). Should fertilization treatment start with reducing stress? Human Reproduction, 21(7), 1651-1658. doi:10.1093/humrep/del078
Marchand, W. R. (2012). Mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and Zen meditation for depression, anxiety, pain, and psychological distress. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 18(4), 233-252. doi:10.1097/01.pra.0000416014.53215.86