Fertility, IVF, ICSI and Pregnancy
Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine & Functional Medicine can play an important role in your journey towards starting a familyFertility, IVF, ICSI and Pregnancy
Acupuncture can play an important role in your journey towards starting a family, including increasing fertility in both males and females, supporting IVF and ICSI treatments and during pregnancy.
Many people now use acupuncture to help support them on their fertility journey.
The British Acupuncture Council have reviewed research on acupuncture and infertility and suggest that acupuncture may work by:
- Regulating fertility hormones – stress and other factors can disrupt the function of the hypothalamic pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA). Acupuncture promotes the release of beta-endorphin in the brain, which regulates gonadotrophin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland, and oestrogen and progesterone levels from the ovary
- Increasing egg production and improving oocyte quality, which could increase the chance of fertilisation
- Increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, which can improve the thickness of the endometrial lining, so increasing the chances of embryo implantation
- Enhancing luteal function
- Regulating follicle stimulation hormone-receptor expression
- Normalising cortisol and prolactin levels on IVF medication days
- Reducing stress
- Promoting embryo implantation
Louise offers treatment to help increase the chances of success for women undergoing an IVF/ICSI/IUI cycle.
IVF & ICSI
IVF can be a highly stressful experience, particularly if the couple have already experienced a failed round.
Some of the potential benefits of using acupuncture during IVF include:
Alleviates the side effects of the medical treatments and improves response to hormonal stimulation.
Helps to reduce the stress and tension faced by patients going through the different procedures.
Improve blood flow to the pelvic organs improving chances for successful implantation.
If you have undergone a failed round of IVF or you are about to embark on your first round, the following is recommend:
3 months before start of IVF
Ideally treatment will start three months before you start your round of IVF. Here I will do a fertility review, make a TCM diagnosis and plan a course of treatment in the lead up to the start of IVF. In some cases it can help increase the chances of conception before starting IVF.
Down Regulation
Weekly sessions to encourage the thinning of the endometrial lining and to help reduce side effects of the drugs.
Stimming/Up Cycle/Egg Collection
Weekly sessions to support follicle growth and improve circulation and to relax the body for egg collection.
Egg Transfer
On the day of transfer two sessions of acupuncture are recommended:
Pre-transfer to improve blood flow to the uterus, relax the cervix and prepare the body to receive embryos.
Post-transfer to encourage circulation, relax the uterus and aid implantation.
Two week wait
An optional session of acupuncture can be used in this period to support implantation and relax the body and mind.
IUI
As with IVF, we recommend beginning treatment three months before the planned date of the IUI round. Here we will do a fertility review, make a TCM diagnosis and plan a course of treatment in the lead up to the day of insemination. Acupuncture is then recommended 6-8 days post insemination.
Acupuncture can be used as a safe and effective method of treatment throughout pregnancy. Many women choose to use acupuncture to support their wellbeing and reduce some of the negative side affects of pregnancy. Women commonly visit the clinic with nausea, PSD, Breach Presentation, miscarriage, pre birth preparation and induction.
Suggested schedule of treatment during pregnancy
Weeks 0-12
During the first trimester we recommend weekly or fortnightly sessions of acupuncture, depending on the patient history. Acupuncture in the first 12 weeks can be used to help prevent miscarriage, reduce feelings of fatigue and nausea and help to reduce anxiety and worry.
Weeks 12-36
After the 12 week scan acupuncture can then be reduced to monthly sessions.
Weeks 36-40
In the final weeks of pregnancy a series of treatments are offered to prepare the body for childbirth and help build energy reserves to prepare the mother-to-be for the post-natal period.
Weeks 40-42
Induction Acupuncture is often recommended as a safe and natural way to establish labour.
“Louise has such a caring and attentive attitude and the sessions often felt like therapy which I emerged from feeling exhilarated and refreshed. She helped me to consider some lifestyle changes I could make to help improve my fertility and was always so positive and reassuring. I came for acupuncture sessions twice a month for seven months, all the while charting my ovulation dates and fertile times under Louise’s guidance and now I am ten weeks pregnant with my second child. I can’t thank Louise enough, she is a miracle worker!”
Want to reclaim your health and boost your fertility?
Book your first session with Louise now