This is a story of a young Turkish couple who had a hard time conceiving when they were ready to have a baby and how they tackled this life challenge with the support of hypnotherapy. For this story, we will be using symbolic names: “Ally” and “John”, per their request.

Ally and John had been dating for about 4 years when they finally decided to get married following their college graduation. They were very excited to move forward and extend their family tree when they soon decided that they were ready to have a baby! They started by trying to have a baby through natural methods for about 7-8 months until they became suspicious that something was not right with either one of them. Sure enough, they went to the doctor and although their doctor didn’t suggest anything particularly negative, John learned that his testosterone levels were lower than normal.

This news crushed the couple because, since day one, they thought they could have a baby very easily and they never thought of it any other way. They didn’t know where to begin for a while because not only were the optional treatments very expensive but they were emotionally overwhelming as well. John was very disappointed in himself and although Ally wanted to support him with her whole heart, she was emotionally frustrated as well because of her dreams being derailed as a mother.

I met them on my latest trip to Turkey and since then we have re-written their story, slowly but surely!

They didn’t even know how hypnosis or hypnotherapy could be helpful for their baby-journey but they were ready to start anywhere. We started with an initial assessment in which I realized there was no medical diagnosis on their infertility or any tangible reason preventing them to conceive. This showed me that when the couple wasn’t able to have their baby as quick as they imagined, they started worrying and stressing themselves further. Maybe even blaming each other or themselves! Eventually, the worry turned into a belief system which was “Something is not right with either one of us”. Right away, we started by changing this belief system. Meanwhile, John started using the supporting medicines prescribed by his doctor for increasing his testosterone levels.

Can hypnosis help with fertility?

Psychological issues and negative belief systems play a huge role in conceiving. Even though there might not be any physiological reasons for not being able to conceive, emotional pressures like stress and anxiety can actually affect the results quickly. In a research conducted by the California State University of Northridge that was published in 2016, it is concluded that IVF treatments that incorporate hypnotic interventions will result in a propitious outcome. This is perhaps due to powerful stress and anxiety release methods that can be used in hypnosis.

“In approximately 50% of infertility cases, the cause cannot be determined. It is widely believed that a proportion of these cases result from psychological factors – a belief that is reinforced by the common experience of a couple’s finally adopting a child out of frustration, only to conceive a child of their own a few months later” (D. Corydon Hammond, Ph.D.)

Both partners can be affected by stress and anxiety. For example, just like in the case of John and Ally, through the years, research studies show that in male participants, stress and anxiety can lower testosterone levels or decrease semen quality which can affect conceiving. Under hypnosis we aid the release of negative emotions along with negative thinking patterns while helping change old negative belief systems about conceiving.

As I started to help Ally and John with hypnotherapy, many changes happened gradually. During the sessions, I helped with releasing the stress and the overwhelming worry of the future. Hypnotherapy is a state in which the hypnotized person feels very calm and comfortable. During this process, it is possible for the person to release the fight and flight mechanism and this allows the person to open himself up to endless possibilities. When we are calm and relaxed, the body’s physiological reactions come back to normal levels including the heartbeat, muscle contraction, and hormone levels. We finally release “happy” and “calm” hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin.

How can you improve your fertility?

One thing you can do, starting from today, is taking care of yourself; emotionally and physically. In the busy day-to-day life, we get caught up with others and the duties so much that we postpone taking care of our mind and emotional health. However, if we don’t take care of ourselves, we cannot really take care of others.

Start with calming and relaxation exercises daily. Bring yourself down to theta brain waves. Theta waves are slower brain waves in which the mind is calm and the subconscious mind is more open. This is the state we use hypnosis in as well. You can come to this level of calmness through meditation, self-hypnosis, hypnotherapy or even deep belly breathing exercises. All of these are easy to practice and will help you control the psychological factors of conceiving easier. You will be able to tolerate negative situations better and you will learn how to stir your future imagination towards positive.

Have you ever heard a story in which a couple tries to conceive for a long time and finally when they give up, they accidentally have a baby? This is a very common experience that many couples are having. Stop forcing and pushing yourself too much. Be present and be in the moment. Enjoy being with your partner and never go to the bed for one purpose of having a baby.

At the end…. (Hint, happy ending!)

After working with John for about 3 months, just last week, they called me with the utmost joy, declaring that Ally is FINALLY pregnant with their very first child! After almost 2 years of trials, treatments, stress and lots of new lessons, they achieved their ultimate desire! One thing John said over the phone that stuck with me the most is: “When we were intimate, just to be intimate but nothing else, I knew things were changing”.

* This story is published with both partners’ approval. The names are changed per their request.