Infertility and Yoga

Hello Readers! Today's topic is very important and very sensitive too and that is female infertility. We know this can be a difficult and very emotional journey for many ladies, but we want you to know that there is hope and there are things you can do to help manage it. First of all, let's talk about what infertility is.

Infertility is defined as inability to conceive after trying for one year or more. It can be caused by varieties of factors such as hormonal imbalances, polycystic ovary syndrome, age or issues with uterus or fallopian tube. Besides this, a menstrual cycle that is too long, say 35 days or more, too short, less than 21 days or irregular or absent means that woman is not ovulating. In this case, there may be no other outward signs or symptoms. But the good news is that there are several options for treatment available to help women who are struggling to conceive. However, treatment of any underlying causes like PCOS or endometriosis, vaginal or fallopian tube obstruction, sexual infection is required to be cured before starting with infertility treatment.

One of the most common treatments is ovulation induction. This involves using medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. This can be helped for women who have trouble ovulating or who has irregular menstrual cycle.

Another option is intrauterine insemination or IUI. In this treatment, millions of healthy sperm are directly pushed into uterus to increase the chances of fertilisation. The treatment can be used in women for infertility caused by issues like endometriosis.

IVF can be useful for couples who have been trying to conceive for a while. With IVF, eggs are harvested from woman's ovary and fertilised with sperm in laboratory. The resulting embryos are then transferred back into uterus.

An IVF cycle can take weeks and requires frequent blood tests and daily hormone injections. There are also surgical procedures that can help in infertility. Laparoscopic surgery is used to remove fibroids from the uterus or to repair damaged fallopian tube.

It's important to keep in mind that the best treatment will depend on the underlying cause of women's infertility.

Medline Academics believes that the best approach to treatment in infertility is one that combines scientific knowledge with empathy and understanding for the patient. As an institution for Best fellowship in IVF and reproductive medicine in India, Medline Academics provides systematic and scientifically valid online infertility courses in India for ovulation induction, IUI, IVF techniques, endometriosis treatment, PCOS management, and more. With proper guidance and training, practitioners are taught not only to do the procedures but also to understand the physiological, psychosocial, and individualized aspects of each patient. By providing physicians with the latest knowledge and clinical insights, Medline Academics helps in the success of fertility treatments and ensures safe, ethical, and informed treatment. In every infertility treatment, there is a hopeful couple, and in every success story, there is a trained fertility expert. No matter what treatment a woman decides to pursue, it is important to stay positive.

Infertility can be a difficult thing to come to terms with, especially when it is caused by something beyond the person's control, like genetic or age. In these cases, acceptance can be a key factor in helping women to move forward and find peace with their situation. Now, let us look at how yoga can help here. Yogic techniques have many benefits, both physically and mentally. This brings us to four important lifestyle pillars.

·       Aahaar - food,

·       Bihar - relaxation and recreation,

·       Achar - behavioural pattern and .

·       vichar thought process.

The first pillar is aahaar.

Food plays a very big role in overall our health and well-being, and it's no different when it comes to infertility. Eating a well-balanced diet can help regulate our hormones, improve blood flow and support overall reproductive health. Take satvik food and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and other high fibre food. Include natural soya products in your diet as soya is rich in oestrogen. Have healthy fats like ghee and nuts because female reproductive hormones are fat based. Drink warm water with lemon between two meals. If you have anaemia, then have food which is rich in iron such as dates, figs, prunes and jaggery. You must also check for other nutritional deficiencies and include natural supplements in diet as prescribed by the doctor. Have light and early dinner. Don't skip your meals and also don't eat in between two meals. Avoid tamasic food, food that is fried, food that is too sweet or rich in saturated fats. Avoid alcohol and smoking. Instead of smoking, chew some fennel or soft seeds.

If obesity is the cause of infertility, then remember diet plays 70% role in losing weight. So as far as possible, eat satvik food which is low in calories, high in fibres, fresh, natural and it digests very well.

Now we are about relaxation and recreation.

Take frequent walks and connect with nature. If you are advised to lose weight, then walk as much as possible. In the beginning, start walking gently for lesser time and take rest in between. Slowly increase the distance and speed. This will happen when you start losing some weight and find yourself fitter. When your stamina improves, you can do some activities like nature walk, dancing, gardening, badminton, swimming and other sports. Cultivate some hobbies to relieve mental stress and to express suppressed emotions. Hence set time aside every day for some recreational activity.

Sleep well. A regular sleep cycle is necessary to manage stress and to bring back the balance in our hormones. Practise relaxation techniques like this Padma Bhava, Yogendra Pranayama 4 and But if you have depression, then don't do more shavasana, do makarasana, lying down on stomach. Shavasana can sometimes worsen the sense of depression and triggers feeling of despair and hopelessness.

Now third is achar, which is about your daily routine to strengthen your pelvic floor. Do asanas like badrasana, matsyasana and pariyankasana. Learn and practise inversion postures such as halasana and viparitkarni. These inversions increase the blood circulation around the reproductive organs. Cultivate dharma bhava and bring calmness in your mind by doing some meditative postures.

Practise yoga mudra to develop an attitude of letting go. You can practise all the pranayamas. Anulom vilom is the best for you because it brings harmony in the body. Yogendra pranayama 1 will help you to become aware of your mental state. Rechak also is helpful as a letting go practise. Take a hip bath regularly.

Practise setu bandha asana and ashwini mudra on and off throughout the day. This will help in healthy blood circulation. Do jaldeti and pratak regularly to keep your mind steady and calm.

Vichar is the fourth pillar and that is about thoughts.

Firstly, acceptance of your condition is most important. Cultivate an attitude of karma yoga at the time of intercourse. Be present in the moment rather than focussing on the result for the same. Have faith in the higher reality and know that there is a plan for the universe. Read scriptures and attend satsangs to develop a philosophical understanding about life.

You see, every couple has their differences. Try to focus on positive qualities of your partner. Practise pratipaksha bhavna and learn how to stay in positive states of mind.Share your feelings with your spouse. Keep yourself busy in some selfless work or offer seva. This will help you to manage anxiety, worry and depression.

Usually, during the course of infertility treatment, a woman may have a lot of anxiety regarding the outcome of the same. In such times, surrender to the higher reality and convert your fear into faith. In some families, there are problems with in-laws. Practise vairagya bhav and learn to let go. Working women should not carry their work stress back home. So there you have it, a well-rounded approach to managing infertility that includes diet, creative activity, routine relaxation and positive thought process. Remember to listen to your body and give yourself time and space to heal. I wish you all the best on your journey towards fertility and wellness.