Though you may not see the connection between using yoga-based mindfulness exercises and improving the odds of conception, scientists do.
Women with fertility problems often look into a wide range of alternative and complementary health options, including herbal supplements, acupuncture and yoga meditation techniques. Though you may not see the connection between using yoga-based mindfulness exercises and improving the odds of conception, scientists do.
According to a pair of recently published studies, regularly engaging in meditative yoga may increase a woman's chances of conceiving a child. This may be a boon for the 7.3 million women who suffer from fertility problems, according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
One report, which appeared in the journal PLoS ONE, found that relaxation techniques changed volunteers' gene expression.
Researchers associated with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center asked 38 women of reproductive age to participate in eight weeks of holistic relaxation training. At the end of the study period, the team found that volunteers' cellular metabolism tended to increase, while oxidative damage had lessened over the interval.
These genomic changes may have a positive effect on a woman's chances of conceiving.
No wonder many couples use yoga and meditation to shrug off the pressure of fertility issues. A survey published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that about one-quarter of all couples who seek fertility care will try complementary and alternative health practices.
The report was based on the observation of more than 400 couples. Over an 18-month period, 22 percent tried acupuncture, 17 percent bought herbal supplements and 6 percent tried yoga or meditation.
One of the benefits of a yoga-based holistic health regimen is that whether or not it changes one's chances of fertility, it can almost always lead to relaxation. Furthermore, you can try a mindfulness routine without purchasing more than a few basic yoga meditation supplies.
Finally, remember that fertility problems and infertility are two different things. Of the 12 percent of American women who have trouble conceiving, only a little more than half are likely to be fully infertile, according to the CDC.
Post a Comment