Trying to get pregnant?
Increase your chances with HypnoFertility

The inability to conceive a baby is a source of very real concern and distress for many couples. Estimates suggest that between 15-25% of couples have difficulty conceiving. Most couples consult conventional doctors -an infertility work-up conducted - and, depending on diagnosis, drugs or high-tech procedures are recommended. Whilst great progress has been made in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and a range of medical options are now available the success rate for those who undergo high tech treatment for "infertility" however is currently about 20%. A great deal of money and emotional investment is spent on medical interventions -  with, for many couples-  no success.
HypnoFertility offers a safe and powerful way to increase your fertility naturally - at a fraction of the cost.

See success rates of hypnosis and mind-body techniques for fertility!

HypnoFertility also gives you the tools to enable you to feel better, stop putting your life on hold, reclaim your life, regain control and start enjoying life again!

What is Infertility?

Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive despite trying for 12-18 months. However the term also includes the inability to carry a baby to term. Whilst a medical cause of infertility may be determined  the most common diagnosis however is "Unexplained Infertility".

Is it a women's problem?

Factors affecting fertility seem to divide fairly equally into a roughly one third of cases which are male factors, a third female factors and the rest which are a combination of both partners.

Age and Women's Fertility

Changes in women's lives since the 1960's have led to an  increase in the amount of  women delaying childbearing due to economic, financial or relationship factors, as well as the rise in divorce/relationship breakdowns leaving many more single in the peak of their childbearing years.

All these factors have lead to a culture of worry for women (and their partners) about fertility caused by the perceived "ticking" of her "biological clock" and increased concern, worry or fear that she may have "left it too late" to have a child causing stress, pressure and even conflict in relationships. In addition media stories increasingly proclaim the rise of "infertility" , including the decrease in 'sperm counts', and the need for medical interventions.
This may have added to the stress and worry around fertility issues and to the now common belief that "it's not easy" to get pregnant.

New research and trends in childbearing however also challenge the accepted medical wisdom which underpins "negative hypnosis" about decreased fertility. (Who says you're too old?)

Worry = Negative Self-hypnosis

Such negative inner self-talk can cause severe stress and anxiety. This can lead to a negative inner state of mind that creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure producing self-defeating patterns of thinking and behaviour.

Studies show that women experiencing fertility problems exhibit high rates of anxiety, stress and depression. These psycho-emotional aspects then affect physiology adversely further reducing the possibility of conception. Research by Alice Domar, PhD shows the effects of stress and depression on fertility. Dr Gayle Petersen's research also shows high anxiety must be reduced to normalize pregnancy and birth

Factors Contributing to Fertility Problems

• Stress. High levels of stress can contribute to decreased fertility.
• Depression. Studies show the effect of depression on fertility and IVF success as well as ability to carry the baby to term.
• Poor diet. Poor or sub-optimal nutrition can contribute to lowered fertility
• Psycho-emotional issues. Unresolved or unexpressed issues around pregnancy, parenting and previous experiences can lead to emotional or psychological blocks to conception.

Hypnosis = Positive change

Hypnosis can increase your chances of conception whether naturally or by assisted conception.

Hypnosis doubles rate of IVF success

A recent study by Professor Eliahu Levitas on 185 women showed hypnosis DOUBLED the rate of IVF success from 14% to 28%.

A 1992 study found that women who participated in mind/body therapy experienced a 34% conception rate as compared to 20% with InVitro Fertilisation alone. Decreased levels of depression, anxiety and anger were also noted.

Mind-body techniques increase conception rate from 20% to 42-55%

Studies show that "infertile" women using mind/body techniques have a 42-55% conception rate compared to 20% for those not following the protocol.

Gravitz (1995) found a 100% success rate in a limited study using hypnosis on 'functional' infertility

Psychological therapies "essential to IVF"

A study by Poehl et al showed 56.4% of women who received psychological therapies (hypnotherapy, psychotherapy and relaxation)  conceived. The study concluded that psychological therapy should be "an essential aspect of IVF"

Hypnosis during embryo transfer improves IVF outcomes

According to a leading Fertility Journal, women who undergo hypnosis during IVF have an increased likelihood of conception. The research shows "rates of clinical pregnancy and implantation were both significantly higher in the women who underwent hypnosis...than in those who had regular IVF-ET cycles". According to researchers "hypnosis relieves stress, and thereby reduces uterine activity and improves the interaction of the embryo with the uterus, while increasing the chances of implantation." (source: Fertility and Sterility 2006: 85: 1404-8)

Hypnosis works

Hypnosis for Fertility transforms the fear and frustration you feel, reduces stress, increases confidence, giving you the tools you need to find that state of inner calm and relaxation to maximize your chances of conceiving naturally or of assisted conception.

Look at the results of studies comparing hypnotherapy with other psychological techniques:

What's involved in HypnoFertility therapy?

HypnoFertility therapy involves a series of individual sessions working with you, and often your partner, in order to learn how to enhance fertility and conception. Sessions are focused on promoting relaxation,  and exploring any blocks or issues affecting conception or pregnancy.
An individually tailored therapy plan is drawn up based on the information elicited during the consultation.

Working Hypno-psychotherapeutically to establish any possible issues which may be affecting conception and increasing relaxation, confidence and re-establishing a sense of control and hope helps maximise the chance of  natural or assisted conception.

The HypnoFertility therapy program consists of a minimum of 4 sessions. If lifestyle changes are required, in order to enhance fertility - such as smoking cessation or weight loss - these are separate from, and additional to, the HypnoFertility program.

If a couple is undertaking IVF it is recommended that they attend 4 sessions prior to the IVF treatment commencing: some couples utilising Hypnofertility therapy have even found they have become pregnant naturally before IVF treatment!

An even better way!

As a qualified psychotherapist, the Persephone HypnoFertility programme incorporates psychotherapy with hypnofertility therapy as researchers state: 

"Hypnotherapy is most effective when practised in conjunction with psychotherapy"

Persephone's training and expertise in Psychotherapy used in conjunction with the HypnoFertility programme can help you resolve any deeper issues around conception, birth and parenting including those arising from previous trauma or abuse. (Effect of childhood sexual abuse on childbearing)

A Holistic Fertility Programme

Under the guidance of the HypnoFertility Programme Persephone also recommends a Holistic Fertility program: a complete mind-body approach to optimise physical as well as psycho-emotional health and well being and therefore fully maximise your chances:

• Persephone HypnoFertility with psychotherapy
• Nutritional therapy to optimise pre-conceptual health
• Acupuncture to balance the body and increase body receptiveness to conception

To Book your HypnoFertility programme or request a free initial consultation Contact Persephone

Want to know more about HypnoFertility? See a TV interview by the founder of the Hypnofertility programme - Lynsi Eastburn

Further reading:

Read Explaining Unexplained Infertility by the founder of the HypnoFertility program, Lynsi Eastburn. 
 Read about the Impact of childhood sexual abuse on childbearing

Want to know more about the science behind hypnosis for fertility?
Read the study by Eliahu Levitas on hypnosis and IVF
Read research on the effect of stress and depression on fertility by Alice Domar, PhD
Read research on the effect of anxiety on pregnancy by Dr Gayle Petersen

Read Article on How emotional experience determines your health
Read excellent Article on Fertility and the mind/body connection by Niravi Payne
Read essential article on how nutrition affects your ability to conceive

Maw&Maw (1995)