Does Meditation Help Fertility?

Meditation is a popular tool for stress relief but does meditation help with fertility? 

When you’re trying to conceive, it can be tempting to try anything that promises to help even if there’s little evidence to back it up. But the effects of meditation have been well documented, so we decided to investigate whether the beneficial effects of mediation could help with fertility too. After all, trying to conceive can be stressful enough so finding a practice that helps you manage it should be beneficial right?  In this post we dive into what meditation actually is and how fertility meditations stack up, and whether or not it can help you on your fertility journey. We’ve included some of the best fertility meditations around and how to implement them in your life so you can realize the benefits of fertility meditations.     

What is meditation

You’re not alone if you’re confused by what meditation actually is or how to practice it.  This ancient practice has many varieties but has been largely ignored by the scientific community until the last few decades.  Rising popularity also means many myths abound so it can be helpful to define the practice and the different forms of it.  

Strictly speaking, meditation is an ancient practice that involves using a set of techniques to focus your mind, awareness, and attention.  Many forms exist around the world and some have religious underpinnings, but it can also be practiced independent of religion and doesn’t belong to any specific faith.  There is no perfect type of meditation since the most effective type is different for everyone.  It is a conscious effort to focus your awareness, thoughts, and direct your attention internally to “quiet the mind” and develop an awareness of the present moment. 

Meditation uses a combination of mental and physical techniques to focus or clear your awareness for certain benefits.  There are different types of meditation and the benefits achieved may depend on the type that you practice.  Body centered meditations focus on the physical sensations that you can feel in your body while contemplative meditations often focus on a question or specific emotions.  Mantra meditations involve a repeated word or phrase to focus the mind and movement meditations involve specific physical techniques like holding the breath or other specific body movements like walking.   

Although this isn’t a complete list, it gives you an idea of the different types of meditations available and may help you find the right one for you.  There is no right or wrong way to practice meditation, but finding a practice that works for you will go a long way in helping you implement this technique in your life.  

Benefits of meditation  

Until recently, the benefits of meditation were well known but not necessarily supported by science.  Thanks to advances in technology we can see how it affects the brain and there are now thousands of studies documenting the positive impacts it can have on mental, physical, and emotional health.  

Mental benefits

The mental benefits of meditation include improved mental focus, ability to concentrate, and better ability to manage stress.  Positive side effects can also include clarity, compassion, and an increased sense of calm.  Studies have found that general meditation can also help ease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress-related health problems.  Some research has even suggested that meditation can help you manage symptoms of certain conditions and help you relax and cope with stress.    

Physical benefits 

Stress can have all sorts of negative impacts on the body and it’s no secret that stress and fertility don’t mix.  In fact, high levels of stress are associated with lower chances of becoming pregnant and may even delay conception.  Stress causes a natural surge of hormones and when your hormones are out of balance it can wreak havoc on your body, not to mention your fertility. 

Meditation can help reduce stress and the physical benefits have been well-studied.  From better sleep and lower blood pressure, to lower levels of stress hormones and a reduction in chronic pain, the physical benefits of meditation have been shown to help many health conditions and improve physical wellbeing.       

Emotional benefits

Meditation not only has many emotional benefits, like being better equipped to deal with negative emotions, it can actually change the brain.  Neurological changes such as changes in gray matter volume or improved connectivity between regions means that you can literally rewire your brain to handle emotions better.  One way this happens is through changes in the amygdala – the part of the brain responsible for key emotions like stress, fear, and anxiety.  Being able to distance yourself from negative emotions and training yourself to be less in your head and more in the present moment is one of the key emotional benefits of meditation.     

Fertility benefits

There are numerous tools to help support your fertility journey and supporting your emotional health through meditation is just one of them.  Proven benefits like balancing your hormones and reducing stress can be extremely useful tools for fertility.  Stress can affect multiple systems throughout your body and consequently be harmful to your health.  Meditation is a practical way to reduce the stress in your life so it doesn’t have an impact on your fertility.  

 

Although stress doesn’t necessarily cause infertility, it can lead to long-term health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, low libido, and hormonal imbalances, all of which can negatively impact your fertility.  Managing stress through meditation is just one of the many benefits of this practice, that may ultimately improve your chances of conception by tapping into the power of the mind-body connection.   

How are fertility meditations different from other meditations

There are many different types of meditation that can help with all areas of your life, but fertility meditations can speak directly to the journey of trying to get pregnant.  Whether that’s navigating the two-week wait, overcoming fear of certain procedures, or emotional self-care, fertility meditations put your reproductive health at the forefront of your practice.  Trying to conceive can be psychologically challenging at the best of times, so having the ability to tap into a proven practice can certainly help ease the journey.  

Guided vs unguided 

Starting a meditation practice can be overwhelming at first and you may wonder whether guided or unguided meditations are better for fertility.  Unguided meditations are largely done on your own, in silence (or with music), and are self-directed.  Guided meditations involve meditating in response to guidance from a recording or meditation teacher using words or instructions.  

The benefits of meditating to get pregnant can be realized with both and it is up to your personal preference.  When it comes to fertility meditations, guided meditations can provide you with instructions on what to focus on and help you overcome specific challenges.  Guided meditations can also utilize imagery to enhance the experience and target specific topics or goal-oriented contemplation.  For some, guided meditations are easier to follow and hold attention.  Hearing a calming voice can help you relax and help manage your thoughts by providing prompts to guide your thinking, and these benefits can be helpful for beginners or those returning to the practice.        

Best fertility meditations

The best fertility meditation is a practice that not only meets your personal needs, but will be one you can implement and stick to on your fertility journey.  There are a variety of different types so finding one that works for you is key.  Stress can trigger irregular cycles and ovulation, which can then deeply affect your fertile abilities.  Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your routine is not only backed by science, but can help reduce the stress of trying to conceive and prepare your mind and body for parenthood.    

Conclusion

Decreasing stress, improving the mind-body connection, and increased emotional awareness can bring you many benefits, no matter where you are on your fertility journey.  Mira offers fertility meditations that unlock your body’s full fertility potential through specialized and holistic exercises.  Fertility meditations, like the ones offered by Mira, can help focus on feel-good fertility hormones in charge of your cycle’s wellbeing and focus on issues specific to your fertility journey.  Whether that’s rebalancing your hormones, cycle, and ovulation, or reducing stress through meditations guided by fertility experts you can prepare for conception and be more in control of your emotions to help you conceive with a clear mindset.