The Effects of Stress on Fertility
For approximately 40% of couples who are having difficulty conceiving, doctors can find no discernable medical reason. For this group, without hope of medical interventions, the effects of stress are most profound.
Research Studies Proving the ability of Meditation to treat Stress & Infertility:
Recent scientific studies show a link between higher stress-levels and greater infertility rates; as well the potential for meditation to reduce stress-levels.
An October 2013 study published in Fertility and Sterility entitled, "Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility: efficacy study," showed that, "women who attended a 10-weed Mindfulness Based Program for Infertility revealed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, internal and external shame, entrapment, and defeat. Inversely, they presented statistically significant improvement in mindfulness skills and self-efficacy to deal with infertility."
Read the PubMed.gov abstract here.
According to study entitled "Preconception stress increases the risk of infertility," that was published in the journal of Human Reproduction in March of 2014 states, "women who had high levels of a biomarker for stress in their saliva took 29 percent longer to become pregnant, compared to those with lower levels, Those with high levels of the stress indicator were also twice as likely as others to meet the clinical definition for infertility." The abstract for this study can be found here, in the Human Reproduction section of the Oxford Journal.
A Huffington Post article from March of 2013 states, "a new study in the journal Health Psychology shows an association between increased mindfulness and decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol." Click here to read the article.
To research additional benefits of meditation, please read the article published by the Mayo Clinic entitled, "Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress," which can be found here.
According to Charles L. Raison, MD, clinical director of the Mind-Body Program at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, the common elements of different forms of meditation are "a narrowing of focus that shuts out the external world and usually a stilling of the body." Web MD Article: Meditation Heals Body and Mind
Both forms of meditation that I teach - Guided Visualization & Qigong Meditation - provide "a narrowing of focus that shuts out the external world and a stilling of the body." Both practices give your mind something to actively focus upon. This makes it MUCH easier to do than other meditation practices -such as watching the breath - that don't give your mind anything to do besides churn out random thoughts. To learn more about the forms of meditation that I can teach you, please click here.
An October 2013 study published in Fertility and Sterility entitled, "Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility: efficacy study," showed that, "women who attended a 10-weed Mindfulness Based Program for Infertility revealed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, internal and external shame, entrapment, and defeat. Inversely, they presented statistically significant improvement in mindfulness skills and self-efficacy to deal with infertility."
Read the PubMed.gov abstract here.
According to study entitled "Preconception stress increases the risk of infertility," that was published in the journal of Human Reproduction in March of 2014 states, "women who had high levels of a biomarker for stress in their saliva took 29 percent longer to become pregnant, compared to those with lower levels, Those with high levels of the stress indicator were also twice as likely as others to meet the clinical definition for infertility." The abstract for this study can be found here, in the Human Reproduction section of the Oxford Journal.
A Huffington Post article from March of 2013 states, "a new study in the journal Health Psychology shows an association between increased mindfulness and decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol." Click here to read the article.
To research additional benefits of meditation, please read the article published by the Mayo Clinic entitled, "Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress," which can be found here.
According to Charles L. Raison, MD, clinical director of the Mind-Body Program at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, the common elements of different forms of meditation are "a narrowing of focus that shuts out the external world and usually a stilling of the body." Web MD Article: Meditation Heals Body and Mind
Both forms of meditation that I teach - Guided Visualization & Qigong Meditation - provide "a narrowing of focus that shuts out the external world and a stilling of the body." Both practices give your mind something to actively focus upon. This makes it MUCH easier to do than other meditation practices -such as watching the breath - that don't give your mind anything to do besides churn out random thoughts. To learn more about the forms of meditation that I can teach you, please click here.