Advanced Fertility Acupuncture: ART/ IUI/ IVF
Welcome Acu-Fam,
Below is our recommendations for using Acupuncture alongside IUI and IVF fertility treatments. Please read carefully and feel free to write us with any questions or concerns.
As you will read below, we recommend initial assessment begin 3 months prior to your fertility treatments. We understand that women are coming to see us at all stages of their fertility journey and recommend contacting us with specific questions and concerns. Our goal is to provide integrative care at any stage of reproductive health.
Preparation before IVF/IUI (3 months)
This plan starts 3 months or more before the IVF/IUI cycle, we use this time to help patients maximize the chance for a successful cycle. During this preparation, we provide acupuncture (may add some herbals or dietary recommendations) to improve quality of follicles (eggs), increase blood flow to reproductive organs (uterus and ovaries), and eliminate any existing menstrual symptoms like PMS, cramping, hot flash, and bloating.
It is strongly recommended to allow for three months of treatment prior to transfer because new follicles go through a 90-120 day follicular development period before they're released for fertilization.
Acupuncture is provided once a week for 3 months (subject to change on individual basis). New studies suggest 9-11 Acupuncture treatments before ART techniques.
Monitoring of BBT cycles determine TCM pattern differentiation and diagnosis.
Monitoring of fertility medications and associated side-effects ie) cysts, quality of uterine lining, emotional disturbances, ect.
Stress reduction techniques and lifestyle recommendations.
Dietary recommendations to support fertility and overall balance within the body and mind.
Less than 3 months preparation before IVF/IUI
Rather than focusing on correcting underlying factors that may impede the fertility process, we use acupuncture to help prepare the body for the best possible result in a relatively short period of time.
The purpose is to:
Improve blood circulation in the uterus and ovaries to boost receptivity to stimulation.
Thicken uterine lining to encourage implantation.
Decrease uterine cramping to encourage implantation and reduce miscarriage.
Decrease cortisol and relieve stress levels to improve the outcomes of western treatment.
Pre and post transfer treatment:
Treatment with acupuncture before and after embryo transfer has been demonstrated by the meta-analysis published recently in the British Journal of Medicine to improve IVF success rates by 65%, continued pregnancy rates by 82% and improve live birth rates by 91%.
The aim of this treatment is to relax the client (less stress produces higher pregnancy rates), improve blood flow to the uterus to promote higher implantation rates, decrease uterus spasms and cramping to improve implantation rates, and decrease the incidence of miscarriage.
