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Using Essential Oils When Trying To Conceive and for IVF
Since before the time of Cleopatra, people have been using plant resins and flower oils for adornment, to balance emotions, and to enhance health. Using essential oils for IVF or to support other fertility treatments is becoming increasingly popular. The practice of aromatherapy is based on many traditional uses of natural plant oils and plant resins, including age-old favorites like frankincense, peppermint, and lavender essential oils. You may wonder if it is safe for you to use aromatherapy and essential oils when trying to conceive (TTC) and undergoing IVF fertility treatment.
During TTC (trying to conceive), or preconception stage, when you’re trying to get pregnant, you will want to be especially careful not to use any essential oils that your doctor tells you to avoid or oils that will interfere with fertility treatments you are undergoing. Some aromatherapy treatments or oils may counter indicate medical procedures such as IVF. This is because some essential oils could possibly affect your hormone levels, which are monitored and controlled very strictly during IVF or other fertility treatments, so a few types of essential oils must be avoided when you are trying to conceive. Other aromatherapy treatments and essential oils are considered safe and are a pleasant way to enliven your senses as you prepare for pregnancy. As with many other holistic treatments used for IVF, like fertility acupuncture, it is important to discuss the use of any essential oils with your health care practitioner or fertility doctor, particularly any treatments that are topically applied (massaged into the skin).
Essential Oils To Avoid When Trying to Conceive (TTC)
While many essential oils are helpful for IVF and other fertility treatments, you should not use the following oils when trying to conceive:
- Rose
- Basil
- Clary sage
- Juniper berry
- Rosemary
- Jasmine
- Nutmeg
- Any other oil that your doctor advises you to avoid
Essential Oils That Are Considered Safe When Trying To Conceive (TTC)
Generally, the use of a few drops of one of these essential oils on a pillow or in an aromatherapy diffuser is considered safe for IVF and fertility and can be used when you are trying to conceive:
- Chamomile
- Eucalyptus
- Cypress
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Frankincense
- Black pepper
- Peppermint
- Ylang ylang
- Tangerine
- Neroli
- Lemon
- Orange
- Spearmint
Essential Oils Use Tips For IVF And Fertility
If your fertility doctor has told you it is safe for you to use essential oils during your IVF or other fertility treatment, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:
- Dilute all essential oils before using them on your skin, including the lavender oil, which people often apply neat (undiluted) to the skin.
- Just use one drop of essential oil at a time.
- Massage is a wonderful way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy, but make sure the massage is not too deep or is using oils that could interfere with your hormone levels.
- Limit the use of a diffuser or vaporizer for 10 to 15 minutes per hour.
- Once you become pregnant, cut down your use of aromatherapy or avoid essential oils completely during the first trimester.
- Vary the type of oil used (avoid using one particular type of oil everyday for months or years at a time because it will lose its effectiveness).
- Aromatherapy is wonderful during a long relaxing bath. Add one drop of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of quality carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil, olive oil, or sunflower oil) and add it to a warm bath.
- Make sure you use only high-quality essential oils that are pure and do not contain chemical diluents.
Other holistic medicine and natural products that may positively affect your fertility treatment:
While using essential oils for fertility (and avoiding some of them when trying to conceive) may have some positive impact on your health and wellbeing, it’s also important to always follow a healthy diet (eat like you’re pregnant before you’re pregnant) and avoid foods that can hinder your ability to get pregnant. You may also be interested in researching other treatments and superfoods that are known to aid fertility, such as:
Contact Santa Monica Fertility
Here at Santa Monica Fertility we offer a range of advanced fertility treatments, including IVF, egg donation and surrogacy and we are available to answer any questions you may have; please contact us or call our clinic on (310) 566 14 70.
While a number of natural treatments and products are known to aid in your preconception stage when you are trying to conceive, we strongly advise you to seek the advice of your general health care practitioner once pregnancy has been established, to ensure that aromatherapy or any other holistic practice does not interfere with the healthy progression of the pregnancy, and as always, please consult your physician before starting medical therapies.