Our practitioners provide a carefully considered and nurturing approach to assisting and supporting you throughout your fertility journey. Whether it be preparing the body to conceive, or supporting client’s through an IVF cycle, our evidence – based approach takes into account underlying causes of infertility and how these may be manifesting for the client.
We incorporate a range of effective modalities such as herbal and nutritional medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle support such as exercise and mindfulness, to help improve your fertility outcomes. We are also happy to work with other health care professionals within your treatment network.
Acupuncture during the IVF cycle, especially around the time of embryo transfer is associated with increased success in chance of pregnancy. Acupuncture before and during the IVF cycle is also beneficial for mood, emotional support and stress relief – all of which are of great importance during this challenging and often tedious journey towards parenthood.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR IVF SUPPORT
The use of acupuncture in conjunction with IVF is a growing area of interest with more clinical trials being performed supporting the positive relationship between these two unlikely partners.
Acupuncture during the IVF cycle, especially around the time of embryo transfer is associated with increased success in chance of pregnancy.
Acupuncture before and during the IVF cycle is also beneficial for mood, emotional support and stress relief – all of which are of great importance during this challenging and often tedious journey towards parenthood.
How does acupuncture support IVF?
Acupuncture can help manage symptoms and side-effects associated with IVF medications
Acupuncture reduces stress, anxiety and depression
Acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
Acupuncture may modulate endocrine factors thus, improve hormone levels
Acupuncture has been shown to improve implantation rates post embryo transfer
Acupuncture in males can improve sperm quality and motility
OUR IVF TREATMENT PROTOCOL
Our treatments are tailored specifically to the individual and the type of IVF cycle.
Pre IVF Preparation
Ideally we begin working with patients for three months prior to an IVF cycle to allow the address of any health issues, lifestyle or environmental factors that may be affecting fertility.
If you have missed this preparation phase of acupuncture do not worry, acupuncture is still beneficial at any stage of the journey and we will tailor our treatments to accommodate.
The Medication Phase
Acupuncture treatments are aimed at increasing blood supply to the uterus and ovaries and balancing hormones.
Post Egg Collection
Acupuncture is recommended within 24 hours of egg collection to reduce local inflammation and aid preparation of implantation.
Embryo Transfer
We recommend pre and post transfer treatments for embryo transfer. Pre transfer treatments are ideally done in the 24 hours leading up the transfer. Post transfer treatments are often done on the day of transfer but within the following 24 hours is also fine.
“The two week wait”
This is usually a time of high stress, anxiety and sleep disturbances thus, acupuncture treatments are aimed to calm the mind, reduce stress hormones and provide emotional support for the patient.
The treatment schedule for any of the above stages involves 1-2 treatments per week.
Clinical experience has shown us that stress and emotional support should never be ignored during the IVF cycle and thus, all our treatments take into consideration all aspects of the individual’s health, both mental and physical. We do this whilst always focusing on the main goal of achieving healthy pregnancy leading to birth.
References available upon request.
TESTING
Where required, we are able to refer for a range of tests which can assist in working out underlying causes of infertility such as salivary hormone testing, thyroid testing and MTHFR.
