Reflexology during IVF treatment

[briandwales]

Hi,

Very soon I am going to be starting my first treatment of IVF. What I need to know is can I continue to have reflexology during the treatment or not? I have searched the net and I am getting mixed answers. Some say carry on having treatment and some say definately stop having reflexology as it can affect how well the drugs work. I am so confused. The key to ivf working is to be stress free, relaxed and totally chilled out, and reflexology does all those things for me.

Thanks

 

[Bobb]

Hi Jackie,

I have5 clients at the moment that i'm treating for sub-fertilty. I use a combination of Reflexology and Auricular Acupuncture. Two are presently taking chlomid, two have previously had IVF and are trying Reflexology before putting themselves through the IVF process again and my 5th client has been having IVF and had her eggs put back last Thursday ~ so we're waiting excitedly, with everything crossed,for the results.

I personally have no problem treating throughout the IVF process. The stress reduction benefits cannot be under estimated. Anything we can do to boost endorphin production (feel goodhormones) and reduce stress hormones can only be a good thing. There have been several studies recently to back up the positive effect of endorphins during fertility treatments. The IVF success rate is, I think just 30% so anything you can do to stay as stress free as possible will help.

I tend to avoid the reproductive areas on the feet, but frankly the chances of counter-acting the extremely powerful effects of the IVF treatment is minimal. After all you're being put into a state of menopause then stimulated with massive amounts of FSH. These are very strong drugs.

My client who's has just completed her IVF has told me that she has coped much better during this cycle than her last attempt and has felt calmer and more positive.

From your post it would seem you're already having reflexology and if you like and trust your therapist and she's happy to proceed ~ go for it.

I wish you much luck and am sending you lots of baby dust xxx

meridianmoon xxx

edited to add ~ I saw my IVF client again on Saturday and gave her auricular acupuncture (endorphin boosting points only) and a lovely head massage to help with relaxation. I would not treat with Reflexology post the implantation stage. This is only because should the cycle not be successful, I wouldn't want my client worrying that it may not have worked because of the Reflexology stimulation. More about looking after my clients state of mind than worries about the treatment.

 

[Bousiovom]

Hi Jackie,

I just wanted to wish you the very best with your IVF cycle. I found your post by searching reflexology. I am currently studying reflexology with an eventual aim in specilaising in fertility issues. We did IVf last year and lucky for us it worked first time.....you are so right with the stress free approach.....but my idea of being stress free was to move house in the middle of the cycle, so even though that was very stressful...moving day just before egg collection, it really must of done the trick coz we now have a lovely little 7mth old baby boy!! i think it just took my mind off the IVF, which for me was brilliant, because i really didnt realise all that IVF woudl entail and how much it puts your body through.

I had Reflexology and acupuncture before i tried IVF but i didnt use any treatments during my cycle, except for treating myself to a lovely facial just as I was starting the sniffer( i went for a full body massage but the therapist wouldn't do it due to the drugs i was taking).

My teacher says that there are some studies to show how beneficial Reflexology is in helping fertility problems, i am not sure about during IVF but as you have said if it makes you feel relaxed then why not go for it. (our doctors at our clinic told us that if our house moving date was during our cycle they would have to cancel the cycle due to the added stress....we just kept it to ourselves and never mentioned it to them, it just felt right for us to go ahead!)

Sending you my positive good luck wishes,

Jess

 

[pureinsomniac]

Hi

Just want to say good luck as well. Im newly qualified in reflexology and want to eventually specialise in fertility as well.

Im hopefully going for a second try at ivf in the new year and will definitely be having reflexology as this totally relaxed me last time.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[[VegLove]]

Good luck to everyone here who is having fertility treatment. There is no evidence that reflexology interferes with fertility drugs, and there are so many benefits from having reflexology.

 

[anewsrfi]

Hi , Thanks to everyone who has replied. I feel much more confident now about continuing Reflexology throughout IVF, although I have decided not to have Reflexology after the embryos have been put back. I am off for a reflexology treatment today as I start injecting tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone else starting treatment, its really not that bad, its exciting.

 

[humbug]

Hi Everyone,

Just to give you an update. Everything is going really well. All my follicles are growing nicely and we are looking at egg retrieval on thurs/fri this week. My left ovary is responding better than my right ovary which is unusual as normally my right ovary is the dominent one, I put this down to having reflexolgy.

 

[Kara]

Hi Jack,

Well done you ~ sending you lots of baby dust and good luck.

Let us know how you get on ~ how exciting !!!

meridianmoon xxxx

 

[SecuritySupportAV]

Hi Jack, sending you lots of good wishes and a ginormous sprinkle of baby dust from my own little IVf baby boy!! Hope all goes well with the ec and transfer....I am sure it will do!!

Jess x

 

[kkklustp]

Hi All,

We had the egg collection yesterday and we got 13 eggs!!!!!! Yippppeee Felt a bit sore when we got home , but much better today.

I am patiently waiting for the clinic to call today to let us know how many have fertilised.

I am having a reflexology treatment today to get me ready for the embryos going back in.

Its all so exciting. I cannot believe we have nearly come to the end of the treatment. I'm gonna be pregnant soon.

POSITIVE THINKING CREATES POSITIVE ENERGY WHICH TURNS INTO POSITIVE REALITY.

 

[MnM]

Hi all,

Well of the 13 eggs retrieved 7 have fertilised so we are really happy. Of the 7 , 5 are really good. The transfer is taking place on Tuesday 12 th sept. So this means the embryos will have reached the Blastocyst stage, and we have a better chance of implantation and successful pregnancy.

Its all so exciting.

I had a reflexology treatment yesterday and this has helped me with the water retention and the constipation. My reflexologist said it isa real shame that fertility clinics do not understand the benefits of having reflexology with IVF. I am their only patient to carry on with reflexology whilst having ivf.

Good luck everyone xxx

 

[{[RoCkStAr]}]

Hi all,

Well the 2 embryos are in there now , hopefully nestling in. The Doc said the 2 embryos are very very high quality and we have a 70% chance of getting pregnant. The transfer was so quick and painless,the hardest thing was having to have a full bladder. Got to rest for 48 hrs now then after that carry on as normal.

I have to say the clininc we chose have been absolutely fantastic, they have made everything so easy and stress free.

Good luck everyone xxxx

 

[smeqjujqimtigyezk]

Hi Jackie,

I just wanted to wish you all the luck in the world and i really hope you have a sucessful outcome.

Im likely to be referred for IVF very soon and fully plan to carry on having reflexology when that time comes.

DCP xx

 

[New Labour Voter]

Hi Jackie,

I'm keeping everything crossed for you ~ let us know how you get on. Sending you lots of baby dust and hoping those little embryos are nestling in deep. [sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]

meridianmoon xxx

 

[flowersinthewind]

Hi Everyone,

I am 9 days past a 5 day embryo transfer and I'M PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was mad enough to do a pregnancy test at only 5 days past transfer and we got a faint positive. Todays blood testhas just confirmed it.

Yippppeeee

So tomorrow I am 4 weeks . We are so so so pleased and feel very blessed.

I am nervous about having reflexology before 12 weeks ,so I am going to wait. I will be really ready for a treatment by then.

Thank you all so much for your support. xxxxx

 

[icemaster1500]

how wonderful Jack!! Congratulations!! I sent you another good luck post the other day but my pc went all funny and lost it, so just logged in to retype and no need to!! Thats so fantastic! I got a very early positive by testing early on my IVf cycle as well, i couldnt resist. Its's the best feeling ever isn,t it... enjoy every minute of your so deserved pregnancy,

Jess xx

 

[Zavv]

Hi Jackie,

Wonderful news ~ many congratulations [sm=dance.gif]

I'm chuffed to bits for you and I bet your Reflexologist is chuffed too.

Keep us posted on the progress of your lovely little bump !!!

meridianmoon xxx

 

[Sarina]

Hi,

Thanks so much everyone!!!

Its still not sunk in yet.

My Reflexologist let out a huge scream when I told her, she is so pleased. She is desperate to get her magic hands on my feet now to look after me and babe or babes!!

Is it really safe to go for a treatment before the 12 week mark? Me and DH both feel a bit nervous.

Going for a scan on 6th oct to see how many babes there are.

 

[Abhijit]

Hi Jackie,

Congratulations!!! I am really pleased for you!

I am currently treating a lady who is starting IVF soon. She suffers from PCOS and currently is not ovulating at all........so we are trying to give her reprodutive and hormonal systems a kick start before she starts her IVF. She has been trying for over a year to get pregnant, and i really hope it happens soon for her as she is such a nice lady, and i feel she would make a great mum.


Kate xxx

 

[tanzanite]

Hi Jackie, I have just read through this thread. I couldn't wait to get to the end to see if anything had happened and it has!! MASSIVE congratulations. I haven't had problems with fertility but a couple of my friends have. Wonderful news for you. Please keep us posted as to how you get on. Take care of yourself x