What issues around fertility can affect women? And men!
Fertility challenges affect both men and women. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a year or more of regular, unprotected sex, impacting around 9% to 15% of couples in the UK (British Fertility Society). While fertility issues can stem from either the male or female reproductive system, sometimes the cause remains unclear, which can add to the emotional strain.
But fertility is about more than just your reproductive system—it’s influenced by your overall health, lifestyle, and emotional wellbeing. Stress, in particular, plays a significant role in both male and female fertility.
How Stress Affects Fertility
Stress can disrupt reproductive hormones, making it harder to conceive. Here’s how:
- For Women: Stress can raise levels of the hormone prolactin, which may interfere with ovulation and reduce the chances of conception.
- For Men: High stress can lower sperm quality and overall reproductive health, making it more challenging to conceive.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help with Unexplained Infertility
When the cause of infertility isn’t clear, hypnotherapy can help by addressing the emotional stress that may be impacting your ability to conceive. Hypnotherapy can:
- Reduce Stress: Helping to restore hormonal balance and create a calmer, more conducive environment for conception.
- Release Emotional Worries: Hypnotherapy supports your mental wellbeing by helping you let go of deep-seated anxieties, improving your overall outlook on fertility.
Fertility Treatment Options
Several treatment options are available depending on the cause of infertility:
- Medications: To regulate ovulation or balance hormone levels.
- Surgical Procedures: To treat conditions such as endometriosis or unblock fallopian tubes.
- Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART): Options like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Combining these medical treatments with stress-reducing therapies, such as hypnotherapy, creates a holistic approach to improving fertility and supporting both your physical and emotional needs.
When to Seek Help
It’s important to know when to reach out for help:
- After 1 Year of Trying: If you’ve been trying to conceive for over a year without success, consult your GP.
- For Women Aged 36 and Over: Seek advice sooner due to the natural decline in fertility with age.
- If Stress is a Factor: If emotional stress is affecting your fertility, hypnotherapy could provide valuable support alongside medical treatments.
1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving
More than 8 out of 10 couples where the woman is under 40 will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex
30% of fertility problems are due to the woman, 30% due to the man, and 30 - 40% to both or to unknown causes
Over 1.3 million IVF cycles and more than 260,000 donor insemination cycles have been performed in the UK since 1991, resulting in the birth of 390,000 babies
What causes problems with conception?
Both men and women can face fertility challenges. Understanding the causes can help you make informed decisions about your fertility journey.
Female Fertility Issues
- Common causes of female fertility issues include:
- Irregular or Absent Ovulation: Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hormonal imbalances can disrupt ovulation.
- Endometriosis: This condition can cause scar tissue that blocks reproductive organs, preventing conception.
- Blocked Fallopian Tubes: Caused by infections or previous surgeries, these blockages prevent the egg and sperm from meeting.
- Fibroids: These growths in the uterus can interfere with implantation and pregnancy.
Male Fertility Issues
- Male fertility issues are typically related to sperm health, such as:
- Low Sperm Count: Fewer sperm reduces the chances of fertilisation.
- Poor Sperm Quality: Sperm that are misshapen or have low motility can struggle to reach the egg.
- Ejaculation Problems: Conditions that prevent sperm from effectively reaching the egg can hinder natural conception.
Factors That Influence Fertility
Several factors can influence fertility in both men and women:
- Age: Fertility naturally declines with age, particularly for women after 35 and men after 40.
- Weight: Being underweight or overweight can disrupt ovulation in women and reduce sperm quality in men.
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Untreated infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause damage to the reproductive system.
- Lifestyle Choices: Smoking, vaping, and excessive alcohol consumption can lower fertility.
- Environmental Exposures: Contact with chemicals like pesticides or heavy metals can negatively affect hormone levels and fertility.
The impact of fertility challenges
Fertility challenges can be emotionally and mentally exhausting, affecting many areas of your life.
Emotional and Mental Health Impacts
- Feelings of Inadequacy: Struggling to conceive can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or a sense of failure.
- Mental Health Strain: Ongoing fertility challenges can contribute to anxiety, depression, and a decline in self-esteem.
- Relationship Strain: Fertility issues can put stress on relationships, causing emotional distance or tension between partners.
Practical Life Impacts
- Work-Life Balance: The stress of trying to conceive can affect your focus and productivity at work, with frequent medical appointments adding to the pressure.
- Social Isolation: You may withdraw from social activities, especially those involving children or pregnancy, to avoid emotional pain.
Recognising these emotional impacts is important. Seeking support, whether from a therapist, a support group, or a trusted friend, can help you manage these challenges.
How can it be managed?
Managing fertility challenges can feel overwhelming, but there are several ways to make a positive difference.
Lifestyle Adjustments
- Healthy Weight: Maintaining a balanced weight supports reproductive health.
- Stress Reduction: Practices such as mindfulness, therapy, and hypnotherapy can help reduce stress and improve emotional wellbeing.
- Balanced Diet: Eating a nutritious diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins supports fertility.
Medical Treatments
- Medications: Hormone-regulating drugs can help stimulate ovulation or improve sperm quality.
- Surgical Procedures: Surgery can address issues like blocked fallopian tubes or uterine abnormalities.
- Assisted Reproductive Technologies: IVF or IUI may be recommended for more complex fertility issues.
Combining these treatments with emotional support, such as hypnotherapy, can help you manage your fertility journey with a greater sense of calm and control.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy can be a valuable complementary treatment for those facing fertility challenges, addressing the emotional factors that may impact your ability to conceive.
Benefits of Hypnotherapy
- Reduces Stress: Hypnotherapy promotes deep relaxation, which can positively affect hormone balance and reproductive health.
- Supports Emotional Wellbeing: Hypnotherapy helps manage anxiety, depression, and guilt, creating a healthier, more positive mindset.
- Improves Sleep: Better sleep can support overall health and help regulate hormones.
- Motivates Lifestyle Changes: Hypnotherapy can encourage healthier habits, such as improving diet and reducing alcohol consumption or smoking.
In our Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy sessions, we celebrate your progress and focus on what you can control. We use practical tools and techniques to reduce stress and create a more supportive environment for fertility. Hypnotherapy isn’t a standalone treatment for infertility but can be a key part of a holistic approach that supports your physical and emotional health during your fertility journey.
Our Fertility Specialists
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Emma Treby
North Devon
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Victoria Anderson
Sunderland
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
