Femoral Massage

By Dr. Eileen Park, ND

Femoral massage is a simple technique that can help increase the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries and therefore increase its function.

This massage can be performed twice a day up to ovulation, or the day before embryo transfer.  Do not perform beyond this point.

PLEASE NOTE: Do not perform this massage if you are or might be pregnant, if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, circulatory problems or a history of strokes or detached retinas.

1. By applying pressure with your fingertips, compress the large artery just beneath the crease in your groin between your thigh and lower abdomen. This is the femoral artery, which comes from the iliac artery (see illustration below). The iliac artery has branches that supply blood to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.  (The ovaries also have an additional blood supply, which branches off the arterial section that supplies the kidneys.
2. You should be able to feel with your fingertips when pulsation of the artery stops. Hold the pressure for 30 to 45 seconds.  The blood is now backing up and increasing pressure in the pelvic arteries and flooding the pelvic organs with more blood.
3. Release the pressure and let the blood flow normally.  When the hold is released, you should feel a sensation of warmth rushing down your leg as the blood supply returns to the lower extremity.
4. Repeat on the opposite side. Perform this massage sequence three times in a row, twice a day, up to ovulation.

Adapted from Randine Lewis’ book “Infertility Cure”  See http://thefertilesoul.com/infertility_cure/?p=315 for a full demonstration