CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Can Alternative Medicine Boost Your Fertility?

Some experts say yes. Here are six methods worth trying.
save article
profile picture of Kaitlin Stanford
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image
Image: Thinkstock / The Bump
6 slides
1

We asked Brenda Strong, fertility expert and board member of the American Fertility Association (oh, and she plays Mary Alice Young on Desperate Housewives too!), to take us through some of the most popular alternative therapies out there — and tell us what they’re really all about.

2
Image: Thinkstock / The Bump

Yoga

Hey, it’s not all just about finding your chi and learning how to bend like a pretzel. Yoga increases blood flow to your reproductive organs (i.e. your ovaries and other fun stuff around your abdominal area), which in turn oxygenates the cells and improves your egg quality. Plus, yoga’s a big help in combating all that stress that comes with infertility and… well, life. Which is pretty important, considering that earlier this year scientists finally found a definitive link between stress and infertility, when a study determined that women who are stressed take are less likely to conceive. And it’s no wonder, says Strong, since the body begins to shut down in all sorts of ways when you’re stressed. But by getting your inner yogi on, you can naturally lower your blood pressure, alter your physiological response to stress, and even increase circulation (which is often to blame for a lot of otherwise unexplainable infertility issues).

3
Image: Thinkstock / The Bump

Acupuncture

Like yoga, acupuncture helps reduce anxiety and depression (not to mention improves endocrine and metabolic problems, and reduces inflammation throughout the body), and it’s a growing trend among couples trying to conceive. And here’s why: Studies have shown that women who get acupuncture treatments while undergoing IVF treatments actually boost their chances of becoming pregnant by 65%. True story.

Acupuncture has also been shown to help the male reproductive system, which is pretty noteworthy considering that 20% of the infertility issues couples face are caused by the male partner alone.

Find a licensed acupuncturist near you now >>

4
Image: Thinkstock / The Bump

Bodywork or Massage

Out of the 6.1 million women in the U.S. who have difficulty getting or staying pregnant, many will be told that their problem is a blocked fallopian tube. Enter fertility massage, a popular alternative to the costly (and invasive) surgery that might otherwise be needed to break up blockages. While scientists have not yet proven its effectiveness in specifically breaking up such blockages, deep tissue massage lowers your stress level and heart rate, and makes your connective tissue suppler – which, in turn, can help problems with lymph glands, scar tissue, adhesions — and other factors that can block blood flow throughout the body.

** Find a massage therapist in your area now >>

**

5
Image: Thinkstock / The Bump

Chinese Herbal Supplements

In about 10-15% percent of infertility cases, couples may be told they have what’s known as “unexplained infertility” — in other words, no known physical reason for why they can’t conceive — and more and more of those couples are turning to homeopathic remedies, like herbs, as an alternative. “Think of your reproductive system as a symphony playing,” says Strong. “If one of your violins is out of tune, your whole orchestra is off. So what holistic remedies like Chinese herbal remedies do is make sure your hormones are all playing together.”

Before you go Googling herbs online, speak with your Reproductive Endocrinologist — you’ll most likely be able to find a trusted acupuncturist in your area who can advise you on which herbs are recommended for women trying to conceive (like Sheng Di Huang, Shan Yao, and Dan Shen). Plus, Strong notes that having your RE and any outside homeopathic doctor work together on your fertility issues will just be an added bonus in the end.

6
Image: Thinkstock / The Bump

Hypnotherapy

We don’t blame you if you have a hard time believing that you can be “brainwashed” into conceiving. But that’s not what hypnotherapy is about — so read on!

Just like yoga and acupuncture, hypnotherapy’s success rate is simply rooted in its ability to relieve underlying anxiety and stress. Every hypnotherapist will work differently, but the basic idea behind it is that the hypnotherapist plants a positive “suggestion” in your mind while you’re under hypnosis — a statement or some kind of mantra aimed at making you feel calmer or even more confident — that you can recall later to manage your own stress levels. Still skeptical? Consider this: In one noted study, the success rates of IVF treatment doubled, from 14% to 28%, in women who underwent both IVF and hypnotherapy at the same time.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

husband hugging worried wife
How to Deal When Everyone Else Is Pregnant (and You’re TTC)
Fact Checked by Denise Porretto
happy young couple eating breakfast at home
10 Things to Avoid When Trying to Get Pregnant
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
woman taking ovulation test on toilet at home
8 Best Ovulation Tests to Find Your Fertile Days, Based on Our Testing
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Frida Fertility
Frida Launches New Line of No-Nonsense Fertility Products
By Wyndi Kappes
woman tracking her menstrual cycle on calendar
How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant?
By Korin Miller
woman looking at contraceptive pills and calendar on phone
How to Get Pregnant Fast: Tips for Trying to Conceive
By Stacey Feintuch
young couple enjoying breakfast at home
New Study Suggests Intermittent Fasting Could Have Impact on Fertility
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
illustrative image of a woman's menstrual cycle
Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?
By Rose Walano
10 slides
Now Eat This! the 10 Best Foods for Boosting Fertility
Now Eat This! the 10 Best Foods for Boosting Fertility
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
12 Fertility-Boosting Yoga Moves in GIFs
12 Fertility-Boosting Yoga Moves in GIFs
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
illustration of sperm moving towards egg
Calculating Your Fertile Window: When Are You Most Fertile?
By Elizabeth Narins
close up of baby bump in black and white
Why I Can’t Be There: an Open Letter to My Pregnant Friends
By Natalie Dale, MD
IUI: Your Guide to Intrauterine Insemination
IUI: Your Guide to Intrauterine Insemination
By Maggie Overfelt
ADVERTISEMENT
How to Choose the Type of Artificial Insemination That’s Right for You
How to Choose the Type of Artificial Insemination That’s Right for You
By Maggie Overfelt
Serious woman at home in her bedroom.
What to Know About Ovulation Pain When You’re Trying to Conceive
By Lexi Dwyer
8 Shocking Facts About Trying to Get Pregnant
8 Shocking Facts About Trying to Get Pregnant
By Kylie McConville
10 slides
10 Crazy Fertility Myths — Debunked
10 Crazy Fertility Myths — Debunked
By Kaitlin Stanford
ADVERTISEMENT
young woman smiling coyly and and walking through city streets
8 Signs of Fertility to Look for Each Month
By Temeka Zore, MD
Getting Pregnant Checklist
Getting Pregnant Checklist
By The Bump Editors
couple cooking together in kitchen
9 Common Fertility Mistakes When Trying to Conceive
By Laura Schocker
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List