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Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a pleasantly relaxed state, similar to the state shortly before falling asleep or in the morning after waking up. In a psychotherapeutic setting, this pleasant state of trance is deliberately intensified so that the entire attention (or at least most of it) remains focused on a specific subject. So hypnosis is nothing more than an intensive form of concentration. During this phase, the consciousness comes into contact with the unconscious, and the knowledge of the unconscious is used to develop successful solution strategies and to achieve the desired changes. Hypnosis never eliminates willpower! During hypnosis the ability to judge remains entirely intact, and afterwards one can remember what has been experienced. This is useful and necessary to cognitively process the information of the unconscious. Every hypnosis as a deep relaxation has a long-term effect: It creates a wonderfully relaxed feeling of well-being.

Hypnosis is beneficial

Hypnosis increases fertility by a factor of 7.6 in artificial insemination (Levitas et al., Soroka University Medical Center, Israel).

Hypnosis has positive effects on vegetative functions

• It lowers the stress level.
• It lowers blood pressure (if necessary).
• It calms the heart rate.
• It relaxes the muscles.
• It relaxes the smooth muscles and thus also the uterus. This helps the fertilized egg to implant and subsequently also protects the fetus.
• It’s a suppressant of the stress hormone cortisol.
• It attenuates the increase of the hormone prolactin during stress and thereby promotes fertility.
• It stimulates the ovulation.
• It has a positive effect on the thyroid function. This is very important because hormonal thyroid disorders associated with stress can lead to menstrual disorders, including Anovulation ( = the ovaries do not release an oocyte during a menstrual cycle) or absence of menstruation.
• It stimulates the immune system.

Stress

Stress of any kind can have considerable negative consequences for the ability to have children.

Therefore, it is very important to take a closer look at the living situation.

• With men, the number of fertile spermatozoa decreases with stress, as does their total number.
• For a woman, stress from life, work, partnership, family and other factors can lead to hormonal disorders.
• Stress-induced hormone prolactin can increase and the fertility can decrease.

Due to all these stress factors and the possible frustration associated with them, the endorphins (= “happy hormones”) decrease and may trigger a feeling of emptiness.

The couple’s prolonged futile attempts to make a baby can also cause severe stress in both partners. The desire to have a child increases more and more, which in turn also generates stress (= vicious circle).

How to get out of the vicious circle?

• The first goal of the psychotherapeutic intervention is to eliminate the pressure to perform from both partners and to ensure that sexual interactions regain a greater level of pleasure and feelings and lose their primary procreative character.
• If the woman can enjoy her sexuality and feels comfortable, the possibility of pregnancy increases.
• Learning and practicing self-hypnosis is beneficial – this applies especially to women (the technique of self-hypnosis and its application is already taught in the first sessions of psychotherapeutic treatment).

The further and more in-depth hypnotherapeutic treatment can begin once it has been ensured that both partners are physically healthy and are able to enjoy themselves again.

What role does the unconscious play?

In the relaxed state of hypnosis, the door to the unconscious opens and allows access to answers to important questions that cannot be found with the mind alone.

Hypnosis therapy begins with analytical questioning of the unconscious

Examples:

• Are there causes from the woman’s past that prevent pregnancy or that speak against the birth of a child?
• Were there any traumas in the woman’s life?
• Has there already been a severe or traumatic birth (which now triggers fear of complications)?
• Does the unconscious confirm that the child’s father also looks forward to the child and agrees to its birth?
• Do the families of both partners agree with the birth? Will they accept the child?
• Does the woman have the confidence to take on the role of a mother?
• Does the woman have any concerns about the child and its future life?

 

Before any treatment can take place, both partners have to make sure that there are no physical or medical issues preventing their ability to become pregnant.