Reflexology and IVF
Support Before, During and After Fertility Treatment
Starting IVF can bring a mixture of hope, excitement, anxiety and uncertainty, and most of us have next to no idea what it entails unless we've been through it.
Alongside the medications, scans and appointments, many people find themselves carrying a significant emotional and physical burden. It can feel as though every decision, every result and every milestone carries enormous weight.
At the Verity Paz Clinic, reflexology is often used as a complementary therapy alongside fertility treatment, providing dedicated time to slow down, relax and focus on your wellbeing throughout the IVF journey, and prepare your body for each part of treatment.
Many clients begin fertility reflexology before starting treatment, continue throughout their IVF cycle and return for support during the two week wait and beyond. Sessions are tailored to your individual circumstances, treatment timeline and emotional needs, offering a calm and supportive space during what can often feel like an overwhelming process.
Whether you are preparing for your first IVF cycle, moving on to a frozen embryo transfer, considering donor conception or navigating treatment after previous unsuccessful attempts, reflexology can become part of your wider support network throughout your fertility journey.
Understanding the IVF Process
If you are approaching IVF for the first time, it can feel like there is a whole new language to learn, and the amount of information and medication you receive can feel daunting. While every fertility clinic follows its own protocols, most IVF treatment follows a similar series of stages.
1. Fertility Investigations and Planning
Before treatment begins, your fertility team will usually review previous test results, discuss your medical history and create a treatment plan based on your individual circumstances. For many couples, this stage can bring a mixture of relief and anxiety. After months or years of trying to conceive, there is finally a plan in place, but there can also be concerns about medications, treatment outcomes and what lies ahead. You may find you're asked to make decisions about options and medication when you have no idea what is best. (If you'd like to go into your consultation fully armed with useful test results you understand and some knowledge and expectation of your treatment to help you make more informed choices, you may find our Fertility Coaching useful.)
2. Ovarian Stimulation
You may be asked to do a down regulation period first, where you take medication to pause and prepare your cycle and ovaries. The next stage typically involves fertility medications designed to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple follicles. During this time, regular monitoring appointments help your clinic assess how your body is responding to treatment. Many women describe this stage as emotionally intense. There can be excitement as follicles develop, but also worry about scan results, medication schedules and how treatment is progressing. Regular scans result in follicle counting and concern for good growth before the next appointment.
3. Egg Collection
Once the follicles have reached the appropriate size, egg collection takes place. This procedure is usually performed under sedation and involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries before they are fertilised in the laboratory. For many people, this can feel like one of the biggest milestones in the IVF process.
4. Fertilisation and Embryo Development
After egg collection, the eggs and sperm are brought together in the lab. The following days often involve updates from the clinic about fertilisation rates and embryo development. Many say this can be one of the most emotionally challenging parts of treatment because there is very little they can do except wait and hope for positive news. 2 fertilised eggs could result in 2 healthy embryos, yet 20 fertilised eggs could equally result in none. Typically 30–50% of fertilised eggs make it to blastocysts (early stage embryos).
5. Embryo Transfer
Embryo transfer is often seen as the culmination of weeks or months of preparation. The procedure itself is usually straightforward, but the emotions surrounding it can feel enormous. Whether it is a fresh transfer or a frozen embryo transfer, many people choose to have reflexology around this stage as part of their overall wellbeing and self care routine. We like to prepare the womb and body as best we can to accept the embryo and nurture it.
6. The Two Week Wait
The period between embryo transfer and pregnancy testing is often described as one of the most difficult stages of fertility treatment. Those 2 weeks can feel like 2 months! Questions, hopes and worries can feel impossible to switch off. It is during this time that many clients value having ongoing support, a safe space to talk and dedicated time to focus on their own wellbeing.
Where Can Reflexology Fit Into IVF?
Reflexology can be adapted throughout your IVF journey.
At the Verity Paz Clinic, treatments are tailored according to where you are in your cycle, how you are feeling emotionally and what support you need at that particular stage. We understand the IVF process and medications very well, so your protocol will be familiar to us and we will be able to advise when best to have your reflexology treatments.
Rather than focusing solely on the treatment process itself, reflexology provides an opportunity to prioritise your own wellbeing during a time when much of your attention is often directed towards appointments, medications and results. We recommend starting treatments 2 or 3 months before your IVF cycle if possible, in order to prepare you mind and body before-hand. Eggs go through another maturation process in the 3 months before ovulation, so it takes 3 months to make a difference to the quality of the eggs. Many of our clients come to us in order to prepare for IVF and fall pregnant naturally after reflexology treatments.
We like to continue treating our clients through the IVF cycle, at intervals that suit them as well as their budget.
Preparation before IVF treatment
Before IVF Treatment
Preparing for Your IVF Cycle
The weeks and months leading up to IVF can bring a mixture of anticipation, hope and uncertainty. For some people, treatment begins after years of trying to conceive. Others may be moving on to IVF following fertility investigations, unsuccessful fertility treatment or pregnancy loss.
During this time, many clients tell us they feel as though their lives become increasingly focused on appointments, test results and treatment plans. It can be difficult to find space to slow down, process emotions and look after your own wellbeing. Many people choose to begin fertility reflexology before starting IVF as part of their preparation for treatment.
Sessions provide dedicated time to relax, reflect and focus on yourself before the intensity of the treatment cycle begins. Treatments are tailored to your individual circumstances and may form part of a wider fertility support plan alongside fertility coaching, lifestyle changes and medical treatment. For many clients, the preparation stage is not simply about getting ready for IVF physically. It is also about feeling emotionally prepared for the journey ahead.
Reflexology During IVF Treatment
Support Throughout Your Cycle
Once treatment begins, many find themselves balancing medication schedules, monitoring appointments, work commitments and the emotional ups and downs that naturally accompany IVF. There can be moments of excitement and optimism, alongside periods of uncertainty, disappointment and worry.
During this stage, reflexology sessions are adapted around your treatment timeline and individual needs. Many clients describe reflexology as an opportunity to step away from the practical demands of treatment and spend time focusing on their own wellbeing. You'll also find you get different benefits with each of our clinicians, for example Michelle may help you feel completely relaxed and maybe even fall asleep, and Verity is a little more 'straight-to-the-point' and will balance your hormones with a side of great conversation.
The experience of IVF is often about much more than the medical procedures themselves. It can affect relationships, confidence, mental wellbeing and day to day life. Having regular support throughout treatment can provide a valuable opportunity to pause, recharge and feel cared for during what can be an emotionally demanding process.
Reflexology Around Embryo Transfer
Before and After Embryo Transfer
Embryo transfer is often one of the most significant moments in the IVF process. After weeks of medications, monitoring scans and waiting for updates from the embryology team, many people arrive at transfer day carrying a mixture of excitement, hope and anxiety.
It is therefore no surprise that this is one of the most common times for clients to seek reflexology support. Many people choose to have reflexology in the days leading up to embryo transfer as an opportunity to prepare for the next stage of treatment.
Others book appointments shortly after transfer as part of their wider wellbeing routine. Personally, we love and prefer it if we've treated you before this point. To really give your body what it needs, it helps to have more than one treatment, and this also allows time for your body to adjust to the reflexology treatment too.
Although we cannot exactly claim that reflexology increases the success of IVF, we can see from experience with our clients, that it can help. Our pregnancy success rates are over 70%, for those who come into the clinic seeking support with treatments such as reflexology, fertility coaching, and acupuncture. Reflexology is hugely under-rated as it's difficult to perform accurate studies, however IVF consultants and clinicians are seeing the benefits more and more now, and the best are recommending such holistic therapies to their clients.
Whatever your experience of IVF, reflexology offers a supportive environment in which you can feel listened to, cared for and supported.
The Two Week Wait
One of the longest 2 weeks you'll ever feel!
For many people, the two week wait can feel like the longest part of the entire IVF process. After weeks or months of preparation, medications, scans and appointments, there is suddenly very little left to do except wait, and resist the temptation to take a pregnancy test too soon.
Many women find themselves analysing every symptom, questioning every sensation and searching for signs that treatment has worked. It can be difficult to focus on anything else. You may feel pressure to stay positive, while at the same time trying to protect yourself from disappointment. Family and friends often want updates, yet it can feel exhausting to talk about what you are going through, and you'll likely find that they simply don't understand, and never will without experiencing it first hand.
Many clients choose to continue reflexology during this stage because it provides dedicated time to step away from the constant cycle of worry and uncertainty. It also allows them to feel they are still doing something positive to support their body and their hopefully implantation embryo or growing foetus. We find our clients leave feeling empowered and more positive.
For some clients, the session becomes a rare opportunity to switch off from fertility forums, symptom spotting and endless internet searches. For others, it provides a safe space to talk openly about their fears, hopes and concerns with someone who understands the emotional challenges of fertility treatment. Sometimes, simply having an hour where IVF is not the only thing occupying your thoughts can feel incredibly valuable.
When Treatment Is Successful
Receiving a positive pregnancy test after IVF can bring enormous joy and relief. At the same time, many people are surprised to find that the anxiety does not immediately disappear. After months or years of trying to conceive, it can take time to adjust emotionally, and to fully trust those test results. Most of our clients continue their reflexology after a positive test, partly as they've ensured the sessions so much, but also to feel they are helping that little peanut out as it does it's best to grow and form. This is a really important time to look after your body, your wellbeing, your emotions and stress levels.
Support Following an Unsuccessful Cycle
Not every IVF cycle ends in the way we hope. When treatment is unsuccessful, the disappointment can feel overwhelming. Alongside the grief of a negative result, many people are left facing difficult decisions about what happens next. Questions about further treatment, additional investigations, finances and future plans can feel impossible to navigate. It is common to experience sadness, anger, frustration, exhaustion and a sense of isolation during this time.
We recognise that fertility support is just as important after an unsuccessful cycle. We understand what clients in this position are going through, and offer a safe space for them to feel what they want to feel. We can help with some advice on what to do next, and tailor reflexology treatments to help flush the medication out of your system and get your body back to its equilibrium.
It's not just for her
We are always reminding our clients, fertility is 50:50. If things aren't going so well, it's nobody's fault. It's not simply a case of egg quality and sperm quality. They work together. The egg can 'fix' issues with the sperm and vice-versa. One can make the other better. So it's so important to look at both sides for this reason. But also because often there are hidden issues with the sperm that haven't been found, and sperm is much easier to treat. Our best results come from when we're able to treat you as a couple.
We often find men are more reluctant to come in. Perhaps they don't believe in the process, haven't done as much research on the topic, or maybe don't want to feel their sperm has anything to do with it, as it can be emasculating and difficult to process. However we are a very understanding team, and try to encourage them to try it at least. At very worst they will have a relaxing time. We've been known to work wonders with sperm, especially count, motility and morphology.
Fertility Support Beyond Reflexology
While reflexology can be a valuable part of your support network, many clients also benefit from taking a broader look at their fertility journey.
At Verity Paz Clinic, fertility coaching and fertility investigation consultations are available for those who would like a deeper understanding of their fertility picture. This may include reviewing previous investigations, discussing lifestyle factors, considering questions to raise with your fertility clinic and exploring possible next steps.
Many couples come to us because they feel they have never had the opportunity to step back and look at the bigger picture of their fertility journey. Having a clearer understanding of your options can help you move forward with greater confidence, whether that involves another IVF cycle, further investigations or a different path altogether.
Verity
Great with unexplained infertility, PCOS/PMOS, endometriosis and complex fertility journeys. Verity offers an intense and effective treatment.
Michelle
Michelle is amazing if you need a nervous system reset or are experiencing high stress symptoms. She'll offer the most relaxing treatment and help you to feel calmer.
Sarah
Sarah's a fabulous women's health all-rounder. Whether it's fertility stress, hormones are unbalanced, or you have other challenges like digestive issues or headaches, she can help you.
Michelle R
Michelle has a particular specialism in the menstrual cycle. Painful, irregular periods or perhaps you need help with a more regular cycle, Michelle is your therapist.
FAQs
Reflexology is generally considered a gentle complementary therapy and is often used alongside fertility treatment, so long as you work with qualified practitioners. At the Verity Paz Clinic, treatments are always tailored to your individual circumstances and stage of treatment, and our therapists are highly qualified and experienced.
If you are undergoing IVF, your reflexologist will adapt the session accordingly and can work alongside any advice provided by your fertility clinic.
We understand how important it is to have a level of trust in us. We're happy to speak with you before-hand and can take the sessions at your own pace. The first will involve a detailed questionnaire and an opportunity for us to get to know each other.
