What is Fertility Coaching and Why it Might Save you Money and Time.

Sarah Jons Author

Jun 27, 2024 |

Fertility coaching offers holistic support - addressing physical, emotional, & mental aspects to improve fertility health. It can also save you money.

What is Fertility Coaching?

Fertility coaching is a new approach designed to support individuals and couples on their journey to parenthood. This methodology addresses the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of fertility challenges, whether alongside or independent of traditional medical treatments.

For some, conceiving a child comes easy, yet the subsequent nine months can present an array of physical and emotional challenges. For others, the decision to embark on the path to parenthood can be a protracted and complex process, often fraught with internal conflicts and uncertainties. As the biological clock ticks, the pressure to become a parent intensifies, even if a significant part of them might not yet feel prepared for this monumental life change. 

Moreover, fertility coaching proves invaluable for those undergoing fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Research indicates that incorporating fertility coaching can enhance the success rates of IVF by up to 50%. This increase is attributed to the comprehensive support system provided by fertility coaches, who help clients manage stress, improve lifestyle habits, and cultivate a positive mindset—all critical factors that contribute to fertility and overall well-being.

By offering tailored support and guidance, fertility coaching empowers individuals and couples to navigate their unique fertility journeys with confidence and resilience, ultimately fostering a nurturing environment for the arrival of their future child.

The Different Backgrounds of Fertility Coaches

Many coaches enter the field of fertility coaching through their personal experiences with fertility challenges, which significantly shape their coaching approaches. It is important to note that the market for fertility coaching is currently unregulated, with no internationally recognised qualifications. As a result, many coaches who specialise in this area have gained qualifications in other therapies and disciplines.

Some coaches specialise in traditional talk therapies like psychotherapy or counselling, offering structured mental health support. Others focus on nutrition, providing healthy eating plans to boost fertility.

A small number of coaches (like me) incorporate alternative methods like hypnotherapy or breathwork. These techniques work with the unconscious mind and body, offering a unique way to address fertility issues that many people might not have considered. These methods can often yield positive results, providing a different way of supporting people on the fertility journey and have been shown in scientific studies to improve conception rates.

Many coaches come to this field through their own personal experiences with fertility challenges. These varied backgrounds and life experiences shape their approaches, allowing them to empathise deeply with clients and guide them effectively through their fertility journey.

My personal journey into fertility coaching began after facing secondary infertility following a challenging pregnancy and stillbirth. Once I qualified as a cognitive hypnotherapist, I pursued specialised fertility coaching training, which opened my eyes to the power of this modality for these issues.

Benefits of Fertility Coaching

Fertility coaching not only aims to increase the chances of conception but also to create a nurturing environment for individuals and couples to thrive emotionally and mentally throughout their journey to parenthood. Here are some further benefits:

• Emotional Support and Coping Strategies

  Fertility coaching provides a safe space to process the emotional rollercoaster of infertility. Coaches offer tools to manage anxiety, stress, depression, and expectations. Additionally, I support single parents who have made the conscious decision to parent alone, finding immense value in the guidance and encouragement provided during their journey. 

• Improved Communication

  Fertility coaching helps couples navigate difficult conversations, make joint decisions, and sometimes navigate breaking up their relationship during this challenging time. Some women want to have children, but might find their partners want to wait. Understanding each partner's biological fertility is crucial for decision-making. Taking hormone tests and benchmarking them can give insights into how long the fertility window is likely to remain open, providing valuable information for planning and future decisions.

• Guidance Through Treatment

  Fertility coaches can provide strategies for key moments like embryo transfer or the long two-week wait. This is a critical time, and I offer my clients daily exercises to help manage and reduce stress during this period.

• Lifestyle Optimisation

  Fertility coaches offer personalised advice on nutrition, exercise, habits, and environmental factors to improve fertility and overall metabolic health. This includes addressing negative behaviours like smoking and weight management, as well as paying close attention to menstrual cycle health, which is a vital window into overall health. Often, my clients are informed about what they need to do, but it's not always easy to create healthy habits and change behaviours. Hypnotherapy is very helpful in changing behaviours as it works at the level of the subconscious mind.

• Motivation and Commitment

  Fertility coaches help set goals, create action plans, and provide accountability throughout the fertility journey. I developed the Project Baby planner, a guide to help clients formulate plans, similar to building a house. This involves allocating budgets and setting milestones, such as deciding on IVF or egg donation if other methods don't work. These conversations can be difficult to have upfront, and sometimes time needs to pass before making key decisions like these.

• Informed Decision-Making and Support

  Fertility coaches empower clients to ask the right questions, understand their options, and make informed choices in consultation with medical professionals. This can involve challenging fertility clinics about tests and verifying their validity. Coaches also support clients in taking control of their fertility journey, walking alongside them through the highs and lows without judgement.

Not All Fertility Coaching is Scientifically Validated

While fertility coaching is gaining popularity, there are concerns about overselling services, instilling false hopes, and accessibility due to high costs. Be wary of any fertility coach who guarantees pregnancy, as this simply isn’t possible. Many coaches talk about success rates that are not scientifically validated, so it's important to be cautious and not believe everything you read. Remember that this can also happen in fertility clinics, where some procedures might be oversold without rigorous scientific backing.

Tips for Choosing the Right Fertility Coach

Consider Their Background and Credentials

Those with personal experience of infertility can provide valuable empathy and understanding. Check if they have had any formal training, or belong to any organisations that would have an ethics policy in place.

Determine the Type of Support You Need

Decide if you want emotional support, lifestyle guidance, treatment explanations, or a combination.

Evaluate Their Approach and Personality

Consider if you prefer a personal one-on-one structured coaching style and ensure you feel comfortable opening up to them. Some coaches offer one-on-one support, while others also run group programs.

Check If They Specialise in Certain Areas

If you have a specific fertility issue or are pursuing a treatment like IVF, look for fertility coaches with experience in that area. Even if you are just about to start an IVF round, it's never too late to benefit from their support. Working with a fertility coach could significantly impact your journey, potentially enhancing your chances of success. Considering that a round of IVF in the UK can cost around £6,000, investing in a fertility coach could be a wise decision, offering valuable support and potentially saving you both time and money.

Assess Their Availability and Communication Style

Consider if location, time zone, or virtual coaching options are important to you. Discuss the frequency of sessions and their preferred communication methods.

Request an Initial Consultation

Most coaches offer a free consultation to discuss your needs and see if you're a good fit. Use this opportunity to gauge their expertise, personality, and whether you feel a strong rapport.

Budget Considerations

It’s important to work within your budget and not overstretch yourself. If you’re paying for private medical treatments, working with the right fertility coach can be invaluable. It can save you money on treatments and help you maintain good mental and emotional health during what can be a gruelling and emotional time. The right fertility coach can provide invaluable emotional support, guidance, and empowerment throughout your fertility journey. Taking the time to find one well-suited to your unique circumstances can make a significant difference.

How Do I Know What Type of Fertility Coaching is Right for Me?

The key starting point is understanding where you are on your fertility journey and what is happening right now for you. This landscape can be vast. Here are some suggestions:

• If you are navigating an infertility diagnosis and can no longer have biological children, finding support from a fertility coach who is an experienced infertility counsellor can help you come to terms with this situation. This can occur earlier in life due to illness or genetics, or later due to age.
• If you need dietary advice, a fertility coach who is a nutritionist can help improve your hormonal health.
• If you have a round of IVF coming up and want support with your mindset, I would recommend finding a fertility coach who has trained in hypnotherapy. A study presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in 2004 found that hypnosis effectively doubled the success rate of IVF treatments.

When Should I Start Fertility Coaching?

If you were preparing for a marathon, you wouldn’t wait until the night before or after a failed attempt to get a coach. You’d start early and prepare properly to optimise your chances of success. Some people can wing it, but many can't. If you’re preparing for motherhood, it’s time to get your ducks in order. Work on stopping smoking, reducing alcohol, improving your metabolic health, and addressing any issues you might have around fertility reducers, such as sleep.

Many women focus solely on the physical aspects of fertility health and overlook the importance of maintaining good mental and emotional health. However, mental and emotional health is equally as important as physical health. Good mental and emotional health can improve physical health, and vice versa.

One thing I’ve noticed is that most of my clients come to me later in their journey, often after many disappointments or when they’re on their last attempt. I recommend seeking a fertility coach sooner rather than later. It can save you money and a lot of unnecessary heartache by helping you navigate your journey more effectively from the start.

Conclusion

Fertility coaching offers a unique and valuable approach to supporting individuals and couples through their fertility journey. By addressing physical, emotional, and mental aspects, fertility coaching provides comprehensive support that can complement traditional medical treatments. Taking the time to find a fertility coach who suits your unique needs and circumstances can make a significant difference in your fertility journey.

Sarah is a skilled fertility coach who uses modern methods and proven techniques like breathwork, hypnosis, and NLP to improve fertility health for all ages, from puberty to perimenopause and beyond. She focuses on enhancing emotional and mental well-being, reducing stress, and helping her clients find balance and clarity on their fertility journey. Sarah is trauma-informed, ensuring a compassionate approach. Gain helpful insights in just one session or work with her online. Need support? Visit www.thefertilitytherapist.com.

My Services

• Fertility Coaching online or in person
• Cognitive Hypnotherapy Sessions
• Transformational Breath® sessions
• Online workshops & courses
• Retreats and Professional Training events
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Categories: : Fertility Coaching, fertility journey, Hypnotherapy, IVF