Can massage help us conceive?

Having a massage is a great way to relax and unwind but, for now, there's no clear evidence that it will help you get pregnant, or affect your fertility.

Massage can help you to de-stress, though, and being less stressed may help with conception. Some stress is a normal part of everyone’s life, and our bodies are built to cope with it. But when it comes to getting pregnant, being continually stressed or anxious could suppress your fertility.

For women, long-term stress can affect how you ovulate. You may ovulate later in your cycle than you think, or you may not ovulate at all. It can also make your periods irregular or affect the length of your monthly cycle. This can make it more difficult to work out when you’re ovulating and when the best time to have sex is.

For men, stress can affect testosterone and sperm production, and sperm growth and development. Long periods of stress can even cause impotence.

Added to this, the more stressed you are, the more it can affect your relationship, and the less likely you are to feel like having sex. So, there are good reasons why lowering your stress levels may improve your chances of conceiving.

When you’re in a stressful situation, your body releases lots of a hormone called cortisol. Some research has found that having a massage can reduce the amount of cortisol in your body. Massage can also lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and affect your brain activity, all of which can help you feel more relaxed.

Massage is safe and, if you think it may help, it could be worth a try. There’s more than one type of massage therapy, but they all help you by:

• increasing the amount of blood and oxygen going to the massaged areas
• warming and relaxing your skin and muscles

Your massage therapist should ask you about your medical history and any symptoms you have, before she starts the session. Some people like light-touch massage and others deep-tissue massage. Your therapist can talk to you about the difference, and help you to decide what’s best for you.

Depending on which area of your body you’re having treated, you may need to take some of your clothes off. The therapist will drape a towel over the areas of your body she's not massaging.

Many therapists use oil to make the massage strokes easier on your skin, or as a carrier for an essential oil, if you're having an aromatherapy massage. Wear something you don't mind getting a little bit oily when you get dressed after your massage.

Touch can be therapeutic, so you may find that other hands-on therapies, such as reflexology, have the same benefits as massage.

Choose a therapist who is qualified and insured. There’s no law to say that massage therapists have to be registered, or follow any particular training. But there are several associations through which some therapists choose to register, such as the Australian Natural Therapists AssociationOpens a new window and the Massage Association of AustraliaOpens a new window. Search their websites for a therapist near you, ask friends, family or your GP for recommendations, or check if your local physiotherapy or osteopathy practice also offers massage.

Find out whether yoga can help you get pregnant, and chat to other people trying to conceive in our supportive community.