Alternative therapies

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the most popular alternative therapies for helping boost fertility. Fine needles are inserted at key points around your body to correct any imbalances in energy or ‘qi’.

The British Acupuncture Council believes acupuncture boosts female fertility by doing three main things:

• regulating hormone function 
• increasing blood flow to the ovaries and uterus
• tackling the causes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – a common cause of infertility

And if you don’t like needles, worry not – acupuncture needles are so fine, they don’t even hurt. Visit the British Acupuncture Council – to find a practitioner and for more information.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy aims to kick-start the body’s in-built healing system by giving you a teeny, tiny dose of whatever it is thought to be making you ill – or in this case unable to conceive.

Homeopathy is sometimes available on the NHS to help boost fertility, although it’s always recommended you use it alongside conventional fertility treatments. Chat to your GP or contact The British Homeopathic Association (BHA) to find a practitioner and more information.

Yoga

Yoga is a powerful stress reliever, designed to make your body and mind the healthiest and most balanced they can be - the ideal state to have a baby in. Yoga also fights fatigue and reduces stress and anxiety – removing these potential barriers to fertility.

You can either find a class specifically geared towards fertility, or join a class that incorporates fertility-boosting postures. Or if you’re an experienced yogi, ask your teacher for postures to do at home. You’re best off avoiding intensive classes like Astanga or Bikram when you’re trying to conceive (all a bit hot and sweaty), while the more calming Lyengar, Hatha or Kundalini are ideal.

Visit The British Wheel of Yoga to find a teacher and for more information

Meditation

The aim of meditation is to shut out all the mental chatter whizzing around in your mind, so you can synchronise your mind and body and focus your entire being on what you really want – to have a baby.

If you believe your mind, body and spirit can all work together to secure what you need, then meditation is for you. It’s also a great stress reliever – so you’re helping remove a major barrier to fertility.

There are many different types of meditation, which use anything from music, chanting and hand movements to guide you. When you’ve mastered the basics, you can meditate at home, in your lunch hour or even secretly on the bus – absolutely anywhere at all. Visit the British Meditation Society to explore the practice, and find a class in your area