Struggling to conceive can be a painful experience, leaving many hopeful parents feeling frustrated, discouraged, and vulnerable. Whether you fall into this camp and the words “fertility massage” fill you with suspicion (and maybe a little bit of hope) or you’re thinking about starting a family soon and want to improve your odds, there’s no question that a massage that can make it easier to conceive is an interesting concept. In order to find out how sound the idea that a massage can help you get pregnant actually is, we consulted the experts. Here’s their take so you can decide whether or not a fertility massage is for you.
Causes of infertility
First, let’s take a look at why people struggle to conceive in the first place. Infertility is often qualified as being unable to conceive after consistently having unprotected sex for a year. It is treated with the help of a reproductive specialist who may be able to determine the underlying issue behind the infertility and advise hopeful parents on how to move forward with treatment. Both men and women are impacted by infertility and there are a wide variety of causes behind this condition, according to Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, double board-certified in OB/GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine doctor. In women, some of the most common causes behind infertility include endometriosis and damage to the fallopian tubes. Ovulation disorders, like polycystic ovarian syndrome, along with uterine and cervical abnormalities can make it difficult for them to successfully conceive. In men, problems with sperm delivery caused by premature ejaculation, testicular blockages, and damaged reproductive organs can be blamed for infertility. Health conditions like diabetes, HIV, chlamydia, and undescended testicles can also cause abnormal sperm function and production, according to Gaither. Both men and women may suffer from infertility if they have a history of smoking and substance abuse. If cancer and cancer treatments are in their past, they may also struggle to conceive. And sometimes, the cause is simply unknown—this is referred to as “unexplained infertility.”
What is a fertility massage?
What isa fertility massage, anyway, and can it help you get pregnant? This is a practice adopted by massage therapists who are seeking a specialized way to support their clients in their efforts to conceive. While the exact services rendered might vary slightly from practitioner to practitioner, the basic idea is the same across the board: A fertility massage is meant to promote reproductive health. Birth doula Hethir Rodriguez says that massage therapy can boost immune function, lower stress levels, improve blood flow to the uterus, and help balance hormones. “Fertility message is basically a deep tissue massage of the abdominopelvic region in a woman felt to increase circulation, ‘break up’ adhesions,’ and thought by some to increase fertility,” explains Gaither. “With some practitioners, reflexology is an additional feature added.” The focus of the massage on the abdomen includes the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, liver, and stomach.
Self fertility massage
While it is possible to book a fertility massage therapist, there are also resources for women who wish to perform self-massage at home on a regular basis, especially as many of us continue to avoid contact with others as much as possible thanks to the pandemic. According to Natural Fertility Info,a resource that provides online training for fertility self-massage, performing these techniques on yourself could help the specific massage techniques used can help anyone with reproductive health concerns, whether that be difficult trying to conceive, endometriosis, or irregular periods. Training videos are available, familiarizing women with their anatomy and explaining techniques for performing fertility massages on yourself.
Do fertility massages work?
When we talk about whether or not something like fertility massage works to achieve the goal of conception, the answer is a little complicated. It’s hard to give a definitive yes or no, because there just isn’t the research out there the confirm that it does help people get pregnant. “The reality is, to my knowledge, there are no studies that have shown that [fertility massage] works,” says Zaher Merhi, MD, FACOG, and HCLD, a board-certified OBGYN and a fertility expert at New Hope Fertility Center in New York. He adds that the lack of research doesn’t actually mean it doesn’t work, we just don’t have the information necessary to decide either way. While the experts at the Cleveland Clinic were clear that there is no research confirming the benefits of fertility massage for conception, they did note that it could have more indirect benefits by relieving stress. “We intuitively understand that when we are in high stress, fight-or-flight response, our body will preferentially select survival over procreation,” says Yufang Lin, MD and integrative medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic. While it is possible to conceive while experiencing stress, Lin explains that cortisol release has a negative effect on the production of sex hormones. Because of this, it is important to manage stress well while you are trying to conceive, and fertility massage might be one way to do that. “Massage has been shown to release muscle tension and reduce the psychological stress response,” she says. “It can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan to support fertility.” If you’re interested in trying fertility massage, speak with your provider first. There’s probably no harm in including it as part of your plan for reproductive health, but the important thing is that you understand that this may not be what makes a difference in your efforts to conceive—instead, it could work alongside other treatment options to support your overall wellbeing. Next up, here’s what you need to know about hiring a fertility coach.
Sources
Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, double board-certified in OB/GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine doctorHethir Rodriguez, birth doulaZaher Merhi, MD, FACOG, and HCLD, a board-certified OBGYN and a fertility expert at New Hope Fertility Center in New YorkYufang Lin, MD and integrative medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic
