Fertility massage: what it is and benefits

Fertility massage: what it is and benefits in reproductive processes

Fertility massage is, as its name indicates, a massage that seeks to support a woman's fertility process, whether she is seeking pregnancy alone and needs treatment or seeking it as a couple and the positive result has not yet arrived. either

But what really is the influence of this technique within a fertility process?

Influence of fertility massage in the search for pregnancy

Looking for a pregnancy can sometimes become complicated. And couples who are in the process suffer a high level of stress, both emotionally, physically and even financially.

They may have been trying to conceive naturally or have gone through different types of fertility assistance. It is more than likely that they have undergone tests, examinations, punctures, stimulations, weight records... All these tests, necessary in many cases, end up increasing distrust about our body's abilities to achieve pregnancy.

However, and although it is key, very little attention is paid to the emotional component of this trip. And this can be an important component in facilitating a pregnancy. The pressure and expectations to conceive can be overwhelmingly stressful. And, as the processes lengthen over time, this stress increases exponentially.

One of the great reasons (and the most contrasted) why the Fertility massage fits into this process because of its deactivating effect on this stress.. Fertility massage protects, connects and restores confidence in the physical body. It is of great help to reduce stress and anxiety.

However, one could doubt whether or not these aids would have an impact on the fertile capacity of couples. Let's see what the studies tell us about it.

What does fertility massage consist of?

Fertility massage is not something new, far from it. It consists of recovering an ancient tradition, once supported and contrasted with modern studies and evidence.

It consists of performing an intense and relaxing massage at the same time. Powerful, but not aggressive at all. It involves achieving more or less rhythmic movements in the pelvic, anterior and posterior area.

And it works by aligning the organs within the abdominal area, releasing pressure and strengthening the surrounding muscles and ligaments. It promotes blood circulation in the pelvic area, as well as the release of tension at the fascia, muscle and visceral level with help of the rebozos.

It can be used as an independent treatment in the period in which pregnancy is sought naturally or as a complement to other forms of fertility treatment. The regularity of its application is the key to benefit from its benefits.

Origin of fertility massage

This is a type of natural fertility treatment that has been in use for hundreds of years.

Throughout Indonesia, for example, massage is widely understood to help women's reproductive health. Whether at the time of conception, pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period (Connor, Asch and Asch 1996; Hunter 2001; Newland 2002; Hay 2004)

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Benefits of fertility massage

There are many benefits of using fertility massage, although they can be summarized in three large groups: at a circulatory, inflammatory and central level.

Benefits of fertility massage at the circulatory level

Fertility massage improves blood circulation to the pelvic organs. Fertility massage therapy improves the circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems and encourages greater blood flow to the reproductive and pelvic organs, as well as resolving any congestion and misalignment of these organs.

Benefits of fertility massage at an inflammatory level

It moderates the inflammatory response, and with it, the pain. Improves organ function by releasing physical and emotional congestion in the abdomen.

It can help reposition the internal abdominal organs, including the uterus. Its correct position optimizes the possibilities of fertilization and implantation.

Helps tone and strengthen the uterus and surrounding ligaments to optimize fertilization and implantation.

Breaks down scar tissue or adhesions surrounding the reproductive, digestive and pelvic organs, improving organ function and health.

With the improvement in circulation and also the modulation of inflammation, the symptoms of dysmenorrhea (painful periods) improve and the regulation of the menstrual cycle is facilitated.

Benefits of fertility massage at a central level

Relaxes the central nervous system (CNS) by decreasing the hormone cortisol and increasing the endogenous production of serotonin.

These types of massage therapies help subdue the parasympathetic nervous system and induce rest and relaxation… which is always welcome.

The balance of the central nervous system is essential to go through an emotionally complex process such as assisted fertility.

Importance of regularity in fertility massage

Although the benefits of massage are clear, they are not overnight. Regularity in sessions is basic for specific treatments, such as the treatment of dysmenorrhea (pain during menstruation), spotting (bleeding during the cycle), to recover the regularity of cycles or to reduce previous dark bleeding. or after the cycle.

Contraindications of fertility massage

There are no contraindications described beyond what has been mentioned at the circulatory level and in assisted reproduction processes. In any case, the only limitation would be if there was a specific hypersensitivity of the pelvic area and the massage would not be entirely pleasant.

In these cases, the intensity of the massage can be modulated to adapt to the patient's sensitivity. Or if not, you can cancel the session and postpone it for another time when there is not so much sensitivity.

Likewise, any gynecological characteristic must be taken into account to modulate the massage itself, this being very gentle in cases of endometriosis and may indicate other types of interventions in cases of fibroids. Furthermore, in cases of assisted reproduction right at the time of ovarian stimulation,

When to perform fertility massage

The best time to performing a fertility massage is during the ovulation phase, that is, from just after the period until approximately day 14 of the cycle.

During ovulation, blood flow to the reproductive organs is of vital importance.

Fertility massage during menstruation

For that same reason, it would not be a recommended treatment to perform during the period of time that bleeding or menstruation lasts, that is, from approximately day 1 to 6 of the cycle.

Fertility massage in the luteal phase

Once ovulation has passed, the luteal phase (or second phase of the menstrual cycle) begins.

It includes from day 14-15 of the cycle until the new arrival of menstruation. And it is a period in which one must be especially cautious since it is always possible that fertilization has occurred and the delicate nesting process is underway.

It would not be especially recommended to activate the circulatory system in the lower abdomen in case of an incipient pregnancy.

If we are sure that fertilization and implantation could not have occurred, there would be no problem receiving a fertility massage in the second phase of the menstrual cycle. In fact, it could help reduce premenstrual syndrome and have a more normal period.

Fertility massage in assisted reproduction treatments

If you are following some type of fertility assistance, where the times are so studied and scheduled, the ideal time to receive a fertility massage is just the cycles before the start of medication.

If we are in the process of insemination or assisted reproduction, we have most likely been prescribed some type of medication, which also usually involves a puncture in the abdomen. For this reason and because of the ovarian stimulation process itself, fertility massage is not appropriate when we are already in the fertility process and this technique is appropriate to prepare us for the treatment, not during the process itself. If you want to accompany it with a natural therapy, you could support it with acupuncture for assisted reproduction.

Benefits of massage on fertility

Women and couples who go through an assisted reproduction process are usually in a moment of special sensitivity and vulnerability.

It is important to protect them from miraculous, unethical or deceptive promotions. Fertility massage is one more complement that improves the scenario to achieve, overall, more options for fertility.

Some of its benefits are clearly described and contrasted, although its limitations must be recognized. It would not be realistic to directly relate massage to fertility, but it is with the improvement of the physical and emotional condition of the woman who wants to become pregnant.

Thus, some of the proven effects of fertility massage are:

Decrease in cortisol and increase in serotonin.

There is good evidence showing that the stress It can affect the reproductive system and, therefore, the ability to conceive.

Research concludes that Psychological stress can affect both men and women.

In men, on the one hand, it leads to lower serum total testosterone levels. On the other hand, secondary increases in the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which could alter seminal quality in men.

In women, stress can increase the level of cortisol, the main stress hormone, capable of directly inhibiting estrogen production. It affects the normal functions of the ovarian follicles and leads to a deterioration in the quality of the oocyte.

And in the case of in vitro fertilization (IVF) processes, it has been shown that it leads to a reduction in the number of oocytes recovered.

Stress can also affect the hormonal axis that connects the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary) to the ovaries (hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis).

It is believed that it can reduce the brain stimulation caused by the secretion of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones. With them, the synthesis of ovarian hormones would be reduced, which could compromise ovulation and the correct production of a quality endometrium.

On the other hand, it is known that psychological stress increases the concentration of glucocorticoids and catecholamines, substances that can activate survival mechanisms related to blood circulation.

They generate vasoconstriction, which reduces blood flow in the uterus and therefore also in the endometrium. This is something that is not interesting when it comes to wanting to carry out a pregnancy, both with IVF and without IVF.

Furthermore, research has shown that psychological stress can even trigger serious problems in embryonic development. Having read this, it might be surprising how even in cases of great stress there are women who become pregnant.

Psychological stress can affect semen quality, oocyte quality and quantity, ovulation, uterine blood flow, and the mechanisms and processes necessary to carry and carry a fetus to term; However, many people endure psychological stress and have no problems conceiving or carrying to term.

There is work that analyzes the effect of moderate pressure massages to reduce psychological stress derived from physically or emotionally compromised situations.

Research includes studies on depression (including studies on sexual abuse and eating disorders), studies on pain syndrome, research on autoimmune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immunological studies (including HIV and cancer breast) and studies on reducing stress at work, the stress of aging and the stress of pregnancy.

In the work, cortisol levels in saliva or urine were analyzed, and significant decreases in cortisol levels (an average of 31 % decreases) were observed after moderate pressure massages.

In studies analyzing activating neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) in urine, an average increase of 28 % for serotonin and an average increase of 31 % for dopamine were observed.

These combined studies confirm the stress-relieving effects (decreased cortisol) and activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) that massage therapy has on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences.

As a curiosity, it was observed that light massage did not seem to have the same biochemical effects mentioned above.

Other uses of fertility massage

There is an interesting study that confirms how by combining fertility massage with conventional exercises, a significant improvement is detected in the reduction of the waist-hip ratio, the size of the ovarian cyst and a reduction in the level of stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome . More than if only conventional exercises were recommended.

There seems to be evidence of the improvements that fertility massage with rebozo maintained over time has for specific situations such as: endometriosis, existence of scar tissues, repositioning of a tilted uterus, blocked fallopian tubes, idiopathic infertility, ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, hormonal imbalances

Fertility massage is a good way to take care of yourself, something so important when it comes to fertility processes.

It promotes the body-mind connection and makes us feel in harmony. In addition, the fact of feeling taste or pleasure again through the body improves the confidence and empowerment of women with problems conceiving.

And having read this... when are you going to try a fertility massage?