Reflexology between IVF treatments

[Taylor!]

Hello
Been a member for a while but this is my first post. I have just had an enquiry from a new client who is between IVF treatments and has been recommended to have Reflexology. As I have no experience in this area I wondered if other members have and have any advice they could give me. Many thanks for any help.

 

[Yahoo User]

Hi 5025,

Welcome to the forums. You appear to be a number, not a name

There is another topic in this forum which deals with giving reflexology to clients ungergoing IVF. I'll try and find the link and post it here.

But, just in case I can't - there is no reason why a client, undergoing IVF, should not receive reflexology treatments. They will aid conception by relaxing your client during what is a very stressful time.

Found it - under the title "Would you treat"

http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=82458

I hope this helps.

 

[cellAmomo]

Im with Paul on this one, by the way do say hello in New members and tell us a little about yourself 5025!!

T
x

 

[Part Time Cynic]

Many thanks for the replies. Sorry to be a number, I cant see how to change that.

Jackie

 

[mahdi]

Hi Jackie!!

Just looked at your profile and realised that it's you!! Hope you're finding all the info you need on IVF.

Once you've set your ID it can't be changed unfortunately. But as you haven't made many posts yet you could always reregister.

Take care

Sarah (Holland) x

 

[whateverchic2006]

Hi there,

Another newbie, I'm afraid!

Just studying Reflexology and I would have thought that working on the ankle area for the ovaries/fallopian tubes/uterus would help. Have also been told to stop working on this area once your client suspects that she is pregant.

Russell

 

[Libtard]

Hi Russ and welcome!

Yes working on the ankle area for the reproductive system may seem the obvious thing to do, and I would agree for ladies trying to conceive naturally, but once they have started IVF treatment they are taking artificial hormones to suppress then stimulate the ovaries. If we work too much on the ovary points we may be trying to encourage a natural balance which is the last thing we want with IVF!! This is one case where we have to let the drugs do their job!

Sarah x

 

[Bruce Parry]

Yep. Good point.

I have only done one client having IVF so far. I just concentrated on giving her a relaxing all-over treatment and I actually didn't spend much time on these areas around the ankles.

she was very informed as she had been through the process before (without success) and I learned a lot from her.

It was a very stressful time for her and she said it really helped.

Oh and yes, she did get pregnant.

 

[Hurdy]

Hi Jackie

If you send a personal message (PM) to admin they can change your user name for you...

T
x

 

[siesnujgincienevx]

Hi Jackie, welcome to the Forum.

I agree with Sarah that we should avoid treating the reproductive reflexes around the time of injections to stimulate / surpress the hormones.

I encourage my client to have weekly treatments (x 6) to help her to relax and reach a state of optimum wellbeing. I then continue with full treatments fortnightly until she starts the injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. The treatments help reduce the hot flushes and other side effects. Just before the fertilized eggs are implanted, I give a treatment for relaxation. Then wait until around the 12th week of her pregnancy to commence with treatments. I have only done a couple so it's all new to me too.

Good luck, and do let us know how you get on.

Jan x

 

[Yeeeeah!]

A good discussion and lots of useful info.

How nice to have so many Newbies contributing.

Welcome to Russ and Jan and to Jackie (who is now a name to us - and not a number)

 

[mellexry]

I've been reading this discussion with interest.

I've just done the first part of the maternity reflexology course with Susanne Enzer and we had quite a big discussion about IVF. Her advise was that it's up to the individual practitioner whether to treat during the IVF or not but she doesn't treat.
Her reasons - and I have to say I agree with them are that the balancing effect of reflexology doesn't fit at all with the effect of the IVF drugs. Reflexology will balance a woman's cycle and encourage her body to ovulate once a month at around the middle part of the cycle. Drugs such as clomid cause multiple ovulation so there's a bit of a clash there.
I don't see personally how 'missing out' the ovarian and pelvic reflexes will help as the endocrine system is just that - a whole system - each gland doesn't work individually but as part of that system. The pituitary, hypothalamus, thyroid and adrenals play a part in the menstrual cycle as well.

Personally I would treat up till the start of the IVF therapy as I think that reflexology is the perfect therapy to prepare someone for IVF and would start treatments again as soon as the lady falls pregnant - to help her to be in the best possible shape to keep the pregnancy.

Just my thoughts.

Love

Sulis xx

 

[treweril]

Sulis

I have several clients who are on Clomid, but not having IVF. Would you still treat them?

Lesley

 

[mariam]

Hi Lesley, no I don't think I would, for the same reasons as I've given in my previous post. Clomid encourages the ovaries to produce many eggs at once, reflexology balances the menstrual cycle so that it produces one egg, they seem to contra-indicate each other. Of course many people would argue that the relaxing effect of the reflexology would make it worth continuing the treatment - that's up to the practitioner and the client. Personally I don't think I'd treat.

Love

Sulis xx

 

[Pompal 09.]

You're right of course, it is a personal choice. But I think it would be a great shame to miss out on treatments during such a stressful time. I would avoid all the areas that you mention actually and only work very lightly. You would of course use common sense.

The benefits to the client are enormous and they are not always going to get pregnant anyway and as it is a holistic treatment this is important.