2-18-07 - More than 9.3 million women in the U.S. are using some sort of infertility treatment, but some local families are turning to an alternative to become fertile, yoga.

Two Wichita families shared their stories with KAKE News; both of them had been successful with having a baby, despite failed attempts through science. Laura McFall and Jenny McHugh took Fertility Yoga classes at Yoga Central. Instructor Pam Welch says yoga is all about removing stress.

"The different positions we put you in will force the body to come to a relaxed state, releasing the chemicals that help with relaxation versus the chemicals that stress you out."

Welch says the program de-stresses your mind and relaxes the body, specifically the reproductive organs. She says the techniques she teaches also help couples deal with the anxiety of infertility and the disappointment it can bring.

Welch admits yoga by itself can’t help everyone, but whether it’s alone or combined with medical treatment she says practicing yoga can't hurt and it's a lot less expensive.

But what do medical experts think of yoga for fertility? We went to the Center for Reproductive Medicine for answers.

"I certainly don’t think it hurts in any way, but there are no good scientific studies to prove that yoga in and of itself is a viable treatment for infertility," says Dr. Bruce Tjaden of the Center for Reproductive Medicine.

Dr. Tjaden and his partner Dr. Granger have been treating infertility for more than 15 years in Wichita.

“I think lots and lots of couples will go to pretty impressive extremes to try and become pregnant."

He encourages couples, especially those going through invitro, to seek some sort of help with stress whether it's counseling, exercise or yoga.

Both couples KAKE spoke with did prenatal yoga throughout their pregnancies and now take yoga just for themselves. If you are interested in fertility yoga the next workshop at yoga central is scheduled for March 3rd. The cost is 40 dollars for one or 65 a couple.