Would-be mums use reiki

Rosanna Marks performs hands-on healing to improve fertility. Photo / Jason Dorday

Couples desperate to conceive are turning to alternative treatments such as reiki, meditation and even belly dancing.

Although there is little scientific evidence such techniques are beneficial, experts say a key cause of infertility is stress - and any treatment that relieves it will help.

Auckland University associate professor of gynaecology and obstetrics Andrew Shelling said stress aggravated hormonal conditions in men and women, dampening their ability to conceive.

"There's no doubt improving your health and well-being is going to be of benefit."

Shelling said it was difficult to gauge how widespread the trend was because couples were often shy about sharing details with their doctor. "Anecdotally, just about every couple would be doing something."

Although relaxation-based treatment "could only do good", Shelling said, there were herbal products on the internet known to have adverse effects.

"These couples are quite vulnerable, they'll try anything. The websites for these products can be quite one-sided."

Clinical director of Fertility Associates, Richard Fisher, said it was common for his clients to combine alternative therapy with conventional treatment.

One in seven Kiwi couples are affected by infertility. The condition is diagnosed when a couple are still waiting to conceive after a year of trying.

Rachel Giovani was given an "average-ish" chance of having children after a decade of medically-diagnosed gynaecological conditions. After four consultations at an IVF centre, the 34-year-old businesswoman enrolled at Auckland's Mind Body Institute for a fertility programme that included reiki, massage and meditation.

The closest she had come to alternative therapy before that was the occasional echinacea tablet.

"I'm not someone who would tend towards natural medicine. I've always been sceptical, I go to the GP when I'm sick. But there were some things the conventional clinic couldn't help me with.

"I used to have to take days off work every month, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed with pain. I'd been scared for years that I wouldn't be able to realise the dream of being a mum."

Three months into the programme, Giovani said, her symptoms had almost disappeared.

Institute director Rosanna Marks said holistic treatments increased blood flow to the reproductive system and encouraged relaxation. She said reiki was a form of healing where a trained practitioner placed their hands on the client, focusing on key areas to channel energy into the body.

"It can sound a bit airy, but it's the key to life. I haven't come across anyone I can't help."

Natural Fertility New Zealand offers another approach to conceiving - teaching couples about optimising ovulation cycles to eliminate stress.

Chief executive Catherine Harris said two-thirds of couples who had used the Waikato branch in the past two years had conceived.

Mind Body Institute charges $150 an hour for a private session of reiki or massage.

Natural Fertility charges $200 for three consultations.