Fertility Support
Acupuncture can support your natural fertility, assisted reproduction techniques (IVF, IUI), male and female infertility factors and miscarriage. You can read the research here.
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1 in 7 couples in the UK struggle to conceive. From a western medical perspective, the physical barriers to conceiving can be investigated and sometimes, treated. Little is done to support the emotional and mental health of the individual or the couple. Acupuncture is a holistic treatment which means that the WHOLE of you is treated – the physical body, mind, and emotions.
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I am one of the 1 in 7 couples who struggled to conceive. You can read my story here. Because of my own experience, treating fertility is very close to my heart and helping people to become parents is truly humbling.
All Embryo Art by Pamela Gallegos www.etsy.com/shop/pomgraphicdesign
Through acupuncture, lifestyle and dietary advice, I support both male and female fertility by balancing the reproductive and endocrine systems, building up the body's vital energy, and providing mental and emotional support.
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If you have been unable to conceive naturally, you may already know the reason for this. For example, it may be due to PCOS, fibroids, or endometriosis. You can read about how acupuncture can support these conditions and regulate the menstrual cycle here. The NHS reports that in 1 in 4 couples, the reason for infertility cannot be explained. This is referred to as unexplained fertility and can be a very unhelpful and anxiety invoking term.
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I would recommend that you start to have regular acupuncture treatments for at least 3 months if you have been struggling to conceive. This is because the development of the eggs and sperm occurs over a 3-month period and therefore, it is possible to have a positive influence over egg and sperm quality during this time. We will also work with the quality and receptivity of the endometrium, your menstrual cycle, and your general wellbeing and emotional health.
Your treatment plan will involve:
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Working together to create a unique treatment plan based on a Chinese medicine diagnosis, which suits your specific needs.
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Reviewing your diet and lifestyle (based on your diagnosis) to see what changes can be made to optimise your fertility, naturally.
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Basel Body Temperature charting (if this is relevant to you) and a tutorial and information about this.
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Fertility education
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Self care techniques to help support you, for example, information about acupressure points, self massage and breathing techniques to relax you
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Yogic practices to support fertility and your emotional and mental health
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Acupuncture is effective in supporting both male and female fertility, you can read the research here. Often women seek treatment, with their male partners being more reluctant to do so. Scroll down to read more about male fertility.
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Natural Fertility Support
A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis found acupuncture to have a significant treatment effect in improving the birth rates of sub-fertile women undergoing IVF or ICSI
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Assisted Reproduction
(IVF/IUI/ICSI)
This is an umbrella term that covers treatments which assist a woman to get pregnant without having sexual intercourse, for example, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI). A major part of what I do as an acupuncturist is to support women and couples going through fertility treatment, especially IVF. I would advise that you start treatment at least 3 months before you plan to start your IVF cycle so that we can influence follicle and sperm development as much as possible. We can also start thinking about and implementing lifestyle changes, if any are needed, and start to support your emotional health.
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Undergoing IVF can be a stressful time and it usually follows on from the emotional rollercoaster of trying to conceive naturally for some time, and not being able to. In general terms, acupuncture treatment focuses on balancing you as a WHOLE and can be very supportive in helping you cope with the physical and emotional challenges of IVF. I would advise that you keep your diary quieter during the IVF cycle and also, as far as possible, avoid stressful situations. Accept help and support from your partner, friends, and family and try to prioritise your self-care up to and during your cycle.
Acupuncture works to support you in a number of different ways during IVF, you can read the research here and here:
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Minimise the side effects of the drugs
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Increase the pelvic blood flow
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Balance the immune and nervous system
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Improve implantation rates
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Calm the mind
Acupuncture treatment leading up to and during your IVF cycle......
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During the months leading up to your IVF cycle, regular acupuncture treatment will aim to regulate the menstrual cycle, support regular ovulation, optimise your hormone levels, and support your emotional and mental well being.
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During the stimulation phase of treatment (when you are given hormone drugs to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple follicles), the aim of acupuncture treatment is to optimise the quality of the womb lining, helping it both thicken and have a good blood supply, encourage the follicles to grow evenly in both ovaries and to work synergistically with the medication to improve ovarian response. Treatment can also help with the side effects of the medication. During this time, I advise you to eat plenty of protein from a good source and Blood nourishing foods.
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If you are worried about the egg collection procedure, acupuncture can support you through this by easing anxiety and helping you to relax.
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The beneficial use of acupuncture before and after embryo transfer is well known. You can read the supporting research here and here. The aim of treatment at this time is to increase blood flow to the womb lining to increase receptivity and to reduce any uterine contractions as a result of the transfer procedure. Having a treatment room at home gives me the flexibility to schedule appointments outside of the usual clinic hours, to try and accommodate treatment before and after your embryo transfer. If I am unable to provide this treatment, I will refer you to a trusted colleague, if possible. If acupuncture treatment cannot be given on the day of transfer, please do not let this be an extra cause of stress to you. Instead, treatment can be given the day before the transfer or during the ‘two week wait’. The aim of this will be to regulate the stress hormones which can effect implantation, calm the mind and reduce anxiety.
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A week after the embryo transfer, acupuncture can be used to aid implantation, support early pregnancy and continue to provide emotional support. Some women/couples find the waiting period challenging and acupuncture can help with anxiety and calm the mind and spirit.
Our treatment sessions will include advice on self-care techniques to help support you throughout this period. Advice will include the use of acupressure points, self-massage, breathing techniques, visualisation and meditation. As a fertility and well woman yoga teacher, I will also offer you yogic practices to support the cycle, and your emotional and mental health.
Though her soul requires seeing, the culture around her requires sightlessness. Though her soul wishes to speak its truth, she is pressured to be silent
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(Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women who run with the Wolves)
Miscarriage and Recurrent Miscarriage
The NHS reports that 1 in 8 pregnancies end in miscarriage and that 1 in 100 women will suffer from recurrent miscarriage (losing 3 or more pregnancies in a row). Despite this, miscarriage is still something that we as a society struggle to speak about openly. Therefore we fail to understand and acknowledge the suffering and psychological impact that it can cause. This has a knock on effect on the levels of support and care available to women and couples. The tendency for many women and couples is to 'soldier on' instead of spending time nurturing themselves and tending to their grief. The perceived taboo around discussing miscarriage/pregnancy loss can also cement feelings of isolation, despair, and anxiety. Research has confirmed that pregnancy loss leads to post traumatic stress disorder in 1 in 3 women.
From a Chinese medicine perspective, miscarriage is as weakening to Qi and Blood as childbirth - there is a saying that "a miscarriage is more serious than childbirth" (Lou Yuan Qi 1986 Chinese Medicine Gynaecology). Despite this, women in the Western world are seldom advised and supported to rest and recover - both physically and emotionally. There are many reasons for miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage from a Chinese medicine perspective. These are mainly rooted in deficiency or heat within the body. Treatment will involve acupuncture to strengthen and balance these deficiencies and to help the women to cope emotionally and mentally. Diet and lifestyle can also play an important part in recovery and strengthening the system. If needed, points can be used to encourage the body to pass the foetus naturally. Treatment is always specific to the individual.
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Male Fertility and Sperm Health
Male fertility problems account for at least 40% of all infertility cases and a semen analysis will look at various aspects of the sperm and seminal fluid. This includes the pH, the number of sperm per sample, and the physical shape and movement of the sperm. Acupuncture can help increase sperm count, motility, and quality. You can read the research here.
Spermatogenesis (the production of sperm) takes 60 to 90 days. Because of this, acupuncture treatments are recommended weekly, at least 3 months before you start assisted reproduction. I will also review your diet and lifestyle (based on your Chinese medicine diagnosis) to see what changes can be made to optimise your fertility and sperm health and to support your emotional and mental health.
Research supporting the use of acupuncture to support fertility and ART
Supporting fertility
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Improving the sperm quality and ovarian function, and balancing the endocrine system and hormones, here.
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Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture in the reproductive system, here
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Traditional Chinese medicine and infertility (improving blood supply, hormone and nutrient delivery to the ovaries and uterus) here
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The role of acupuncture in the management of subfertility (improving blood supply, hormone and nutrient delivery to the ovaries and uterus, endometrial receptivity and implantation), here.
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Acupuncture in improving endometrial receptivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Zhong, Y., Zeng, F., Liu, W., Ma, J., Guan, Y., & Song, Y. (2019)BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 19(1). doi:10.1186/s12906-019-2472-1
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Acupuncture in polycystic ovary syndrome: current experimental and clinical evidence, here.
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Current evidence of acupuncture on polycystic ovarian syndrome (regulating fertility hormones), here.
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Acupuncture for dysmenorrhoea, (Reducing and alleviating painful periods), here.
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Regulating fertility hormones. Acupuncture in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Obstetrical & gynecological survey, Bishop, K. C., Ford, A. C., Kuller, J. A., & Dotters-Katz, S. (2019). 74(4), 241–251.
IVF Support
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Role of Acupuncture in In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes, here
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Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy, here
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Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation, here
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Acupuncture given with embryo transfer improves pregnancy and live birth rates, here
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Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy, here
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Acupuncture enhances chances of pregnancy in unexplained infertile patients who undergo a blastocyst transfer in a fresh-cycle, here
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Improving clinical pregnancy and life birth rates of women undergoing IVF/ICSI, here and here.
Improving emotional wellbeing, reducing stress and anxiety
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Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes, here.
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The effect of acupuncture on psychosocial outcomes for women experiencing infertility: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine. Smith, C. A., Ussher, J. M., Perz, J., Carmady, B., & de Lacey, S. (2011). (New York, N.Y.), 17(10), 923–930.
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The Perception and Experience of Infertile Women Who Received Acupressure in Relation to Anxiety: A Qualitative Study. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, Hassanzadeh-Bashtian, M., Khadivzadeh, T., Badiee-Aval, S., & Esmaily, H. (2018). 23(5), 376–381.
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Acupuncture performed around the time of embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Smith, C. A., Armour, M., Shewamene, Z., Tan, H. Y., Norman, R. J., & Johnson, N. P. (2019). Reproductive biomedicine online, 38(3), 364–379
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Improving sperm motility, count and quality
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Improving the sperm quality and ovaries function and balancing the endocrine system and hormones, here
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Success of acupuncture treatment in patients with initially low sperm output is associated with a decrease in scrotal skin temperature, here.
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Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultrastructure after acupuncture treatment for idiopathic male infertility, here.
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Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities. Gurfinkel, E., Cedenho, A. P., Yamamura, Y., & Srougi, M. (2003). Asian journal of andrology, 5(4), 345–348.
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Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture in the reproductive system, here.
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A new study of acupuncture in IVF: pointing in the right direction. El-Toukhy, T., & Khalaf, Y. (2010). Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 21(3), 278–279. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.06.024
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It is important to note that the evidence for acupuncture in supporting IVF, is mixed. This is due to the different variables and methodology used during clinical trials for example, lack of valid outcome measures and diagnostic criteria, sample sizes and lack of funding for research. However, anecdotal evidence (what my patients tell me and other acupuncturists) is that they have found acupuncture hugely beneficial and supportive during and leading up to their IVF cycle.