Healthy Mind Body Program

Traditional medicine has always focused on the IVF process with regard to improving outcomes by improvements in ovarian stimulation protocols, techniques of egg retrieval, embryo transfer and/or improving embryo culture systems. While all of these advances increase the success of the procedure, one essential factor has been left out – psychological and physical well-being.

Barbados Fertility Centre strives to always be on the cutting-edge for medical protocols, techniques and embryology, however we take a much more holistic approach to your fertility treatment and care.

Infertility and Stress

Infertility and stress often go hand in hand. While it is doubtful that stress causes infertility, there is no doubt that the process of infertility - both investigations and treatment, is stressful. Studies have linked higher stress levels to poorer outcomes from IVF - from fewer numbers of eggs being produced to fewer embryos and most importantly lower chances of success.

By helping to reduce the stress surrounding your IVF treatment, we hope to increase the chances of the procedure being successful.

Barbados Fertility Centre Healthy Mind/Body Approach

Our Healthy Mind/Body approach focuses on patients’ mental and emotional state  (well-being) to increase the chances of treatment success. Approximately every 2 days each couple will receive a pre-booked and scheduled Mind/Body treatment to aid with the release of all their stress and pressures. During our program, couples will experience, in the comfort of their own hotel room, two one-hour sessions of reflexology treatment, two one-hour sessions of acupuncture treatments and two couples massages by one of Barbados' top massage therapists.

Also included is a session with our trained psychologist, who has specialized in the psychological effects of infertility. She helps couples to alleviate all the negative emotions and stress associated with infertility by teaching them new coping skills and methods to restore their sense of control over anxiety and physical tension.

Throughout your stay on the island, you will be in contact with the Patient Liaison Manager or medical team for any questions or queries via the provided cell phone. The Patient Liaison Manager is in control of all Healthy Mind/Body appointments. She will guide you through every step of your fertility vacation from the moment of your arrival through your departure.

We are very proud of our Healthy Mind/Body Program and believe this sets us apart from many IVF units and contributes to our extraordinary success rates. Patients have the option of adding further massage / acupuncture / reflexology and psychological counseling during this time to further optimize outcome.

Psychological approach

• Relaxation based training
• Cognitive restructuring

Additional options:

• Acupuncture
• Reflexology
• Massage

General aspects of well-being:

• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Support - groups, chat rooms / bulletin boards

For decades, psychologists have used a variety of techniques to induce relaxation in patients. These techniques include diaphragmatic breathing techniques, yoga and meditation. Our goal is finding a technique that works for you.

Acupuncture and Reflexology

Acupuncture and reflexology both originate from Eastern culture, where it is felt the body has channels of communication and energy flow which can be accessed via "needle points” for acupuncture or the sole of the foot for reflexology.

While skeptics question the scientific basis of how these techniques work, studies have shown potential benefits to IVF outcome measures when these "alternative" techniques are used in conjunction with standard IVF protocols.