In recent years, “yoga for fertility” classes have been becoming more popular for those attempting and struggling to get pregnant. These classes are designed to be a holistic approach to fertility treatment by decreasing stress. Not only does the act of doing yoga itself decrease the stress of participants, but the class provides a support group for all women involved. In turn, this support and knowledge of others going through the same struggles decreases the stress stemming from infertility.
No scientific tests have proven that yoga has increased the pregnancy rates in infertility patients, but most participants claim that the coping skills that they learn help to take away a lot of the stress in their lives. The more important function of these classes is that these women have a place to come and rid of their worries and have the solid support of others around them who know what they are going though. Sometimes this support comes without them even realizing it.
Although there is no clinical proof that conception rates have increased because of participation in yoga, there is proof that stress has been known to reduce the probability. By providing this stress free environment and a time when participants can just let go and get support, fertility has seen success.
I think that this article shows the importance of exploring new options for solutions to public health problems. Infertility is something that we struggle to understand and struggle to handle. However, we must think outside the box when it comes to dealing with the issues. The problem goes deeper than an inability to get pregnant. These women struggle everyday with feelings of inadequacy and stress. These programs have proven to help decrease these feelings and restore hope in those that participate. I think that this brings about an important issue for public health. We cannot always expect to find the answers to all of our problems. Instead, we must sometimes just be content with coping the best that we can. In this situation, we may not be finding the solution to increase conception, but we are improving the lives of those involved. I would count that as success. After all, the purpose of public health is not necessarily to have all the answers, but rather to do the best we can with what we have, and to improve the lives of those involved to the best of our ability.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/fashion/06yoga.html?ref=health&pagewanted=all
The cynic in me wants to wonder how much of this will be a fad. Yoga has obviously seen a sharp rise in popularity and has documented medical benefits. However, I wonder if it has staying power, especially considering some of the more tenuous claims surround it (such as increasing fertility).
ReplyDeleteI think you are right to point out though that there may be underlying issues at hand that require further examination. Fertility has been one of those stigmatized topics that has only recent come into public awareness. Regardless if yoga has an effect on conception rates, it is making a difference in these people's lives. If yoga does anything to alleviate women's stress then it has served its purpose.