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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Reflexology when TTC - anybody got experience good or bad?

24 replies

Khanny · 31/08/2023 11:43

Hi everybody, I have been having reflexology weekly for the last month to aid TTC and balance my hormones. The nurse at my GP surgery recommended I try it after being unsuccessful TTC for over 3 years with unexplained secondary infertility. She did say it is not guaranteed to work but maybe worth a try.

Anyway I hadn't had a period since May and I began spotting the day after my first session in July so she must have got something flowing in the right direction! I then bled for 4 weeks and it was heavy, clotty, leaking overnight etc and the GP said it sounds like a lot of blood/lining had built up and needed to come out.

How often would you/did you have reflexology when TTC? Not sure whether to cut it down from weekly as I don't want to upset my hormones in the opposite way where they work overtime and I bleed more frequently. I am wanting to regulate my cycles. Also if you have any success stories regarding TTC and reflexology, please share them I would love to read them x

OP posts:
Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 07:29

Anyone?

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Kayjay2018 · 01/09/2023 07:35

I had reflexology after a miscarriage and because I was TTC. Whether it worked or not obviously I will never know. I found that the hour session once a week gave me a chance to relax completely and I was honestly floating when I got home, i felt great. I did fall pregnant again - I think maybe I started reflexology in the May/ June and fell pregnant in the august and my little girl arrived safely the following May.

CurlewKate · 01/09/2023 07:37

Anything that makes you feel relaxed and happy might work.

CornishGem1975 · 01/09/2023 07:39

I never used it for TTC but I do enjoy it when I am feeling a little off kilter. Anything that helps you relax is good.

WhineWhineWhineWINE · 01/09/2023 07:42

I had it weekly throughout my last (and finally successful) IVF cycle. Continued it all the way through the pregnancy too. I will never know if that is what made the difference the last time, but it was obviously a good outcome for me.

Smeshier · 01/09/2023 07:55

I don’t know what the success rates are for reflexology and conception but acupuncture is proven to be successful. Full disclosure - I am an acupuncturist! It increases live birth rates in IVF by 42%. I would recommend swapping reflexology for acupuncture. It’s also surprisingly relaxing!

Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:01

Kayjay2018 · 01/09/2023 07:35

I had reflexology after a miscarriage and because I was TTC. Whether it worked or not obviously I will never know. I found that the hour session once a week gave me a chance to relax completely and I was honestly floating when I got home, i felt great. I did fall pregnant again - I think maybe I started reflexology in the May/ June and fell pregnant in the august and my little girl arrived safely the following May.

Aww that's great, thank you for your story :) I love going, I fall asleep every week so clearly get into some sort of deep relaxed state! I'm trying to relax and take my mind off the TTC obsession x

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Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:04

CurlewKate · 01/09/2023 07:37

Anything that makes you feel relaxed and happy might work.

Yeah I agree, that is why the nurse at the surgery recommended it to me as I was getting so upset and obsessed with ovulation tests etc.

I fall into a relaxed sleep every week which is lovely and I really enjoy the hour to myself!

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Greenberg2 · 01/09/2023 08:04

I did everything I could that would enable me to conceive after trying unsuccessfully for 18 months, including weekly reflexology. So I took vitamins/minerals that are known to be related to higher fertility. I ate organic food where possible. I gave up caffeine. I went to a chinese herbalist. I looked spectacularly well, and my skin glowed! And it worked. I can't tell you which bit made it successful but I do know that reflexology can be fantastically beneficial to your wellbeing, which has surely got to help with feeling relaxed if nothing else. I would say that it balances things rather than stimulates things so it is fine to have it weekly.

Newusernameaug · 01/09/2023 08:06

My friend was ttc for 18 months, did Accupucture and conceived, so I’d also try that.

Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:07

CornishGem1975 · 01/09/2023 07:39

I never used it for TTC but I do enjoy it when I am feeling a little off kilter. Anything that helps you relax is good.

Totally agree, I am really enjoying the relaxed state it sends me into and the hour to myself is just bliss, really hoping to get some positive news from it x

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Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:09

WhineWhineWhineWINE · 01/09/2023 07:42

I had it weekly throughout my last (and finally successful) IVF cycle. Continued it all the way through the pregnancy too. I will never know if that is what made the difference the last time, but it was obviously a good outcome for me.

That's great news, I love a positive story :) I think reading other peoples positive outcomes is what is getting me through this journey. I do love going and the fact my reflexologist doesn't speak whilst doing the treatment is fabulous because I really get into a relaxed state of sleepiness!

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Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:11

Smeshier · 01/09/2023 07:55

I don’t know what the success rates are for reflexology and conception but acupuncture is proven to be successful. Full disclosure - I am an acupuncturist! It increases live birth rates in IVF by 42%. I would recommend swapping reflexology for acupuncture. It’s also surprisingly relaxing!

I have had a couple of acupuncture sessions prior to the reflexology but I didn't find it relaxing at all, maybe it was the setting as the acupuncturist was lovely and helpful. She went away for the summer which is why I tried the reflexology after the nurse recommended it but once she is back I might go again, thank you! x

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Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:14

Greenberg2 · 01/09/2023 08:04

I did everything I could that would enable me to conceive after trying unsuccessfully for 18 months, including weekly reflexology. So I took vitamins/minerals that are known to be related to higher fertility. I ate organic food where possible. I gave up caffeine. I went to a chinese herbalist. I looked spectacularly well, and my skin glowed! And it worked. I can't tell you which bit made it successful but I do know that reflexology can be fantastically beneficial to your wellbeing, which has surely got to help with feeling relaxed if nothing else. I would say that it balances things rather than stimulates things so it is fine to have it weekly.

Thank you, yes I am wanting to balance out my hormones as they have just seemed so out of whack for the last couple of years. Thanks for the tips! The fertility gynae (who discharged me and my husband as there is no reason for us not conceiving) said to just stick to folic acid, vitamin d and a coq-10 supplement x

OP posts:
Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:16

Smeshier · 01/09/2023 07:55

I don’t know what the success rates are for reflexology and conception but acupuncture is proven to be successful. Full disclosure - I am an acupuncturist! It increases live birth rates in IVF by 42%. I would recommend swapping reflexology for acupuncture. It’s also surprisingly relaxing!

Forgot to mention that the acupuncturist also looked at my tongue and felt my pulse and from that said I had a hormone imbalance and was damp from the inside and I need to get blood flowing in all the right directions, I was intrigued by it all! x

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Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:17

Newusernameaug · 01/09/2023 08:06

My friend was ttc for 18 months, did Accupucture and conceived, so I’d also try that.

Thank you, I think I will start it back up when the lady I went to before is back from her summer break - it just all gets so expensive! x

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Greenberg2 · 01/09/2023 08:56

Khanny · 01/09/2023 08:14

Thank you, yes I am wanting to balance out my hormones as they have just seemed so out of whack for the last couple of years. Thanks for the tips! The fertility gynae (who discharged me and my husband as there is no reason for us not conceiving) said to just stick to folic acid, vitamin d and a coq-10 supplement x

Show quote history

Hmmm. Doctors don't always think holistically in my experience. I went to see a gynae too and he was great at checking out mechanical issues - I had fibroids and cysts - but not so good on the overall body side. From memory I took selenium, iodine and zinc which are all supposed to be good for fertility.

Incidentally I had an op to take out the cysts/fibroids and they were amazed as they'd disappeared/shrunk since my scan. I think it was all the things I'd been doing for my health.

Really good luck with your journey.

moosey89 · 01/09/2023 09:01

I started reflexology and acupuncture to help relax and get my cycles back to normal after my MMC in July, my period came back in 4 1/2 weeks, was pretty normal and it looks like this first cycle is back on track. I don't know what had an impact but like you I found the hour of complete quiet a brilliant time for a busy stressed out brain!

Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 09:10

Greenberg2 · 01/09/2023 08:56

Hmmm. Doctors don't always think holistically in my experience. I went to see a gynae too and he was great at checking out mechanical issues - I had fibroids and cysts - but not so good on the overall body side. From memory I took selenium, iodine and zinc which are all supposed to be good for fertility.

Incidentally I had an op to take out the cysts/fibroids and they were amazed as they'd disappeared/shrunk since my scan. I think it was all the things I'd been doing for my health.

Really good luck with your journey.

Show quote history

Agree totally, just been reading about wheat germ being good for your fsh so might do a little more research in to that and yes I have read about zinc being good also so will look into that too.

On another note, I have tingly nipples for the first time in SOOOOO long and I feel little excited about it as I used to get this feeling every month but haven't had it for a good year and longer!

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Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 09:13

moosey89 · 01/09/2023 09:01

I started reflexology and acupuncture to help relax and get my cycles back to normal after my MMC in July, my period came back in 4 1/2 weeks, was pretty normal and it looks like this first cycle is back on track. I don't know what had an impact but like you I found the hour of complete quiet a brilliant time for a busy stressed out brain!

Sorry about your MMC.

Yeah I love how every week I tell myself I will just close my eyes and not fall asleep but every week I fall into this relaxed state of deliriousness!

Good luck on your journey x

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bob1985 · 01/09/2023 09:14

I had reflexology when TTC. It didn't help me get pregnant, but we discovered a medical reason we couldn't convince without IVF.

However, what I would say is it helped me massively with the stress of it all. So i say it can't do any harm

Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 09:29

bob1985 · 01/09/2023 09:14

I had reflexology when TTC. It didn't help me get pregnant, but we discovered a medical reason we couldn't convince without IVF.

However, what I would say is it helped me massively with the stress of it all. So i say it can't do any harm

Thank you, I am really enjoying the hour to myself and the deep relaxed state I fall into

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log51 · 01/09/2023 13:50

Hi @Khanny I used reflexology when TTC and I'm now nearly 37 weeks pregnant! I had really long cycles and they were all over the place, I was actually really lucky in that it didn't take me that long to conceive regardless, so I don't know whether the reflexology would have helped regulate the cycles but I really believe that anything that can help you relax when all you can think about is TTC is amazing - like you I tried acupuncture and found it awful and not relaxing at all unlike reflexology which is heaven. There are pregnancy specialists too and I've kept it up throughout pregnancy and it's so lovely. If you can afford it, absolutely keep it up!

Original poster
Khanny · 01/09/2023 14:00

log51 · 01/09/2023 13:50

Hi @Khanny I used reflexology when TTC and I'm now nearly 37 weeks pregnant! I had really long cycles and they were all over the place, I was actually really lucky in that it didn't take me that long to conceive regardless, so I don't know whether the reflexology would have helped regulate the cycles but I really believe that anything that can help you relax when all you can think about is TTC is amazing - like you I tried acupuncture and found it awful and not relaxing at all unlike reflexology which is heaven. There are pregnancy specialists too and I've kept it up throughout pregnancy and it's so lovely. If you can afford it, absolutely keep it up!

@log51 Ahh congratulations, that is lovely :)

My cycles have too been irregular and I have long, heavy periods, and I would really like some kind of regularity so that I can aim to pin point ovulation and make sure we don't miss it.

It is the best £35 a week I spend, think I woke myself up twice last night grunting in my deep state of relaxation haha! x

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