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. It impacts around 9% to 15% of couples in the UK (British Fertility Society).
Fertility problems can come from various issues with the male or female reproductive system. Sometimes the cause remains unclear, which can add to the emotional strain. Fertility is also influenced by your overall health, lifestyle and emotional wellbeing.
Stress plays a significant role in both male and female fertility. For women, stress can raise levels of the hormone prolactin. This 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.
Medications, surgical procedures and other options like IVF can help to treat fertility problems, depending on the cause.
When to Seek Help
If you’ve been trying to conceive for over a year without success, consult your GP. Women aged 36 and over should seek advice sooner due to the natural decline in fertility with age.
If you think emotional stress is affecting your fertility, hypnotherapy could provide valuable support alongside medical treatments. Hypnotherapy can support the mind body connection, helping to reduce your stress levels.
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 the chances of conception?
Understanding the causes of fertility challenges can help you make informed decisions about your fertility journey.
Factors That Influence Fertility
- 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.
- Mental Health: High anxiety and stress levels can disrupt reproductive hormones, making it harder to conceive.
- Environmental Exposures: Contact with chemicals like pesticides or heavy metals can negatively affect hormone levels and fertility.
Female Fertility Issues
- 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
- 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.
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. Frequent medical appointments may add 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. Some of these may increase the chances of you conceiving.
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 Fertility 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.
Using these treatments along with emotional support, like fertility hypnotherapy, can help you handle your journey better. You will feel more calm and in control.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Fertility hypnotherapy can be a valuable complementary treatment for those facing fertility challenges. It can help couples to address the emotional factors that may affect your ability to conceive.
With solution focused hypnotherapy, 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 promotes deep relaxation, which can positively affect hormone balance and reproductive health. We use hypnosis to work with the subconscious mind and promote positive suggestions. This helps manage anxiety, depression and guilt, creating a healthier, more positive mindset.
By improving sleep, hypnotherapy for fertility issues can support your overall health and help regulate hormones. Hypnotherapy can also encourage healthier habits, such as improving diet and reducing alcohol consumption or smoking. These will all have a positive impact on your ability to conceive.
Hypnotherapy isn’t a standalone treatment for infertility. However, it can be a key part of a holistic approach that supports your physical and emotional health during your fertility journey.
Our Fertility Specialists
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Emma Bancroft
Rainham, Kent
Emma Treby
Mid Devon
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Samantha Morson
Canvey Island
Victoria Anderson
County Durham
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.
