The importance of a healthy mind & body to conceive

LONDON, Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- "Just relax and it will happen…put a pillow under your hips…you ARE having sex aren't you?" Does this sound familiar? For many couples suffering with infertility these frustrating comments are usually filled with good intent, but ultimately they are nothing short of adding fuel to the fire of your stress levels, when you are trying to get pregnant.

Infertility is not in your mind, but a medically diagnosed disease of any couple that is trying to achieve a pregnancy over the period of one year with no success.

Many studies have been conducted that show the negative impact stress has on couples who are suffering with infertility. These studies reveal the disheartening news that when stress levels go up, pregnancy rates go down!

Going through IVF treatment is stressful in itself and the World Health Organization lists this level of stress as one of the top stressors a person can be diagnosed with after HIV.

So the question remains - how can couples that are trying to reduce stress to increase their chances of a successful outcome accomplish this overwhelming challenge?

The wonderful news is there is a solution and it resides on the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados at Barbados Fertility Centre.

Barbados Fertility Centre (BFC) is the only Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited centre of excellence for IVF treatment in the Caribbean and was purpose built over 11 years ago with the focus on complimenting holistic treatments with traditional IVF treatment to reduce stress and increase success.

This formula has proved itself for over a decade with the natural beauty of the island helping couples to unwind as they take a break from the hectic pace of everyday life to enjoy all this holiday paradise destination has to offer.

On site at BFC is the Life Wellness Centre (LWC), a purpose built spa that allows patients to easily transition from traditional medical treatment appointments to their holistic medical treatments. The LWC offers patients massage, acupuncture, chakra rebalance, nutritional advice, reflexology and counselling to help positively deal with the emotion associated with fertility treatment.

Couples travel from every corner of the globe to Barbados for fertility treatment with a growing number of couples from the USA who are attracted by their high success rates and low treatment costs.

Kelli Harrington from Washington, USA married her husband when she was 39, and they decided to start a family straight away, but after 6 months nothing had happened.

Kelli visited an acupuncturist and soon became pregnant, however her joy was short lived when she sadly miscarried at 6 weeks. By now Kelli had turned 40 and consulted a fertility specialist in the US, who presented the couple with a daunting schedule of fees. The price rose higher the greater the woman's age, and Kelli estimated her bill would top US$40,000!

The couple decided they needed to find another option, so they started investigating fertility treatment overseas. A friend recommended BFC, having successfully undergone treatment there a few years before.

Kelli thought, it must be nice to have the money to have treatment on a tropical island, she didn't think they could realistically afford it but decided to arrange a telephone consultation. She assumed that this alone would cost a hefty fee, but was delighted to learn that a 45-minute call to the head clinician at BFC, Dr. Juliet Skinner was actually free of charge!

Once Kelli looked in the cost of flights, accommodation, treatment and medication she was shocked to see the total bill was going to be a quarter of the cost of just treatment alone in the USA.

Kelli who works in the travel industry said, "Our decision was made, my husband and I both enjoy travel so were really excited to be going to Barbados for treatment. I had my medical records sent to BFC and they helped me to order my medication."

Once in Barbados the couple were delighted that they needed to spend only a few hours at the clinic. They stayed within walking distance and spent most of their time enjoying what Kelli describes as a two-week stress free vacation, where they enjoyed the country and most importantly each other.

Kelli combined her medical treatment with acupuncture sessions while in Barbados and was really pleased that the IVF process went smoothly, with four viable embryos. She had two implanted and the other two frozen. Back home, a pregnancy test was positive. She was again delighted but sadly miscarried again.

Kelli was of course upset and felt discouraged, but she wasn't devastated, because she knew she still had two frozen embryos at BFC and was confident that she had found the right place to help her conceive.

She and her husband returned to Barbados for a short stay of only six days, where they used the frozen embryos and again underwent holistic therapies to help her unwind during the process.

This time Kelli's dream became a reality with the help of BFC and is now the proud mum to baby Jack!

Kelli said, "People don't realise there are more affordable fertility treatment options outside of the USA, BFC is JCI accredited and I believe that they have the right approach combining holistic therapy with traditional treatment. I am convinced that acupuncture helped me to conceive and in my mind it just really helped to balance my body."

Kelli is now enjoying motherhood and her beautiful son Jack who is now just celebrated his first birthday.

Kelli said, "Sometimes I look at him and I still can't believe he is really here, even though it's been a whole year! He was so worth all the heartache and struggle, he is just awesome!"

SOURCE Barbados Fertility Centre