Louise McHale - Wellness

Reproflexology™ (Reproductive Reflexology) is the study of and treatment of male and female reproductive conditions and fertility issues using reflexology.

Reproductive Reflexology (or Reproflexology™) can be used as a stand-alone treatment to enhance your natural fertility, or with all forms of assisted conception including Clomid, IUI, IVF and ICSI. It can also be used to support individuals and couples using surrogacy or donors in IVF cycles.

Treatment involves using structured and prescriptive treatment protocols, to support couples through all phases of their assisted conception programme.

• It uses specific & prescriptive treatment protocols to address fertility health for both men and women.
• It aims to regulate menstrual cycles and ensure that each stage is functioning at its best.
• It aims to improve sperm production and functionality.
• It aims to assist any underlying conditions – male or female.
• It uses structured and prescriptive treatment protocols supporting all forms of assisted conception.
• It is one of the most effective forms of integrated medicine using results from medical testing to measure improvements.

• Irregular cycles.
• Amenorrhea - An absence of periods usually created by a hormonal imbalance.
• Menorrhagia - Heavy but regular bleeds. 
• Oligomenorrhoea - Infrequent bleeding.
• Dysmenorrhoea - Painful periods.
• Progesterone anomalies - A deficiency in progesterone during the second half of the cycle has been associated with infertility, early miscarriage , short menstrual cycles and pre-menstrual spotting.
• Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) - PMS is a combination of cyclical, physical, emotional and psychological symptoms.
• Polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - Polycystic ovaries occur when egg sacs within the ovary fail to develop properly, causing benign cysts on the surface of the ovary. This can interfere with ovulation. PCOS occurs when a woman with polycystic ovaries also has raised levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and the 'male' hormone, testosterone.
• Endometriosis - A condition in which endometrial tissue grows outside the uterine cavity.
• Andenometriosis - Distinct from endometriosis in that additional endometrial tissue grows within the muscular layer of the endometrium, causing an enlarged uterus, pain and heavy bleeding. 
• Fibroids.
• Ovarian cysts. 
• Salpingitis - Infection and inflammation of one or both of the fallopian tubes.
• Vaginismus - Muscle spasm in the vagina.
• Cervicitis - Swelling or inflammation of the cervix.

• Acute prostatitis - Sudden onset of infection in the prostate gland.
• Hormone imbalances.
• Varicocele - A varicose vein affecting the testicle.
• Hydrocele - A collection of fluid around the testicles, in the scrota.
• Epididymitis - Inflammation of the epididymis.
• Orchitis - Inflammation of the testicles caused by a case of the Mumps.

Regular reflexology during pregnancy relaxes the mother-to-be's mind and body; it consequently facilitates and eases the birth process.

The benefits of Antenatal reflexology include;

• Reduced morning sickness, all day sickness and vomiting which persists past month 3. Reflexology is recommended by the national maternity hospital, Holles Street, Dublin.
• Helps relieve heartburn and indigestion, constipation and haemorrhoids, low back pain, labour sciatica, and sympysis pubis diastasis.
• Prepares the body for labour by balancing the body systems, especially the endocrine system which governs the labour process.
• The length of the labour can be very much reduced by having regular reflexology treatment in the weeks prior to the expected date of delivery.
• During labour, Reflexology can be used to boost energy levels and aid in relaxation between contractions. It helps with pain control by stimulating the production of endorphins.
• Reflexology can be used either to stimulate regular contractions in labour or to sedate contractions when labour is in co-ordination.
• Babies born to mothers who have had regular reflexology are very calm, suckle better and are less prone to colic.
• Using Reflexology after labour can help expel a retained placenta, can promote healing of episiotomies, will encourage breast milk production and can help relieve urinary retention. 

Going through 'the change' can be a very challenging time for women. Reflexology can help women to cope with the changes that are happening within their bodies and their minds during this transition.

Perimenopause means 'around menopause' the time leading up to menopause. Its onset will vary from person to person but its symptoms can least for a least a decade.

Women are born with every egg they will ever have. The speed at which the reserve declines increases after the age 35.  This decline in ovarian reserve can fluctuate. It isn’t a steady reduction in the number of eggs available, so symptoms and menstrual cycle function will fluctuate alongside this hence why it can last for a decade.

As the number of follicles available decrease we start to see some changes;

•  Oestrogen and progesterone levels fall 
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone rise, the bodies way of trying to increase follicle activity 
• Women start to experience anovulatory cycles 
• Menstrual cycles become irregular 
• Hot flushes and night sweats are common
• The endometrial thickness reduces due to lowered oestrogen and progesterone 
•  Bleeds can become closer together and then further apart 
• And then stop altogether