IVF and Assisted Reproduction

 

Although Acupuncture and TCM can be the primary medical intervention to assist with reproduction, they are also excellent support for the other commonly used procedures such as Clomid, IUI and IVF. If you are unable to conceive naturally, it is important to consult experienced medical professionals who can determine the most appropriate treatment. The main type of the assisted reproductive technology (ART) used at fertility clinics in the U.S is in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF involves extracting a woman’s eggs, fertilizing the eggs in the laboratory, and then transferring the resulting embryos into the woman’s uterus through the cervix.

 

The success rate of IVF is determined to a large degree by the age of the woman undergoing the treatment. Younger women tend to have healthier eggs, which increases the chances of success. Unfortunately not everything always goes to plan. IVF is not a guaranteed method for pregnancy and full term birth.  Typically only about 1/3 of attempts achieve implantation and only about 2/3 of those continue to full term.

 

The average success rate after one cycle of IVF treatment in the USA is:

 

47.5%% for women who are under 35 years of age,

39.6% for women who are between 35-37 years of age,

28% for women who are between 38-39 years of age, and

15.7%% for women who are between 40-42 years of age.

 

Acupuncture and TCM services are often recommended by IVF clinics as an adjunct to their interventions to improve results and increase success rates, and assist you through the whole process, addressing:

 

• IVF preparation
• IVF support
• Multiple failed IVF cycles

 

Why choose Acupuncture and TCM?

 

Not only acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, which can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation, as stress and anxiety can interfere with ovulation and reduce the chances of conception, but also improves blood flow to the reproductive organs, which can increase the thickness of the uterine lining and improve the chances of implantation. Acupuncture helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and improve hormone balance, which can increase the chances of ovulation and improve the quality of the eggs.

 

During an acupuncture session for infertility, the acupuncturist will typically insert needles into points on the abdomen, back, legs, and feet, as well as points on the ears and hands. The treatment is usually painless and may last for up to an hour. We also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to support fertility, such as reducing stress, increasing exercise, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

 

While acupuncture is generally considered safe, it's important to work with a licensed acupuncturist who has experience treating infertility. Acupuncture is not a substitute for medical fertility treatments, such as IVF or IUI, but it can be a useful complementary therapy that may improve the chances of success.

 

Benefits – Acupuncture and TCM can improve the chance of a successful pregnancy in women who are trying to conceive naturally or through IVF treatment. It can also reduce depression and stress in women who are struggling to conceive.

 

• Improve the function of ovaries
• Regulate the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles
• Increase the blood flow to the uterus & increase the thickness of the uterine lining
• Improve semen to create better quality & quantity of embryos
• Decrease the chances of miscarriage
• Lessen the side effects of drugs used in IVF
• Decrease depression and stress!

 

Acupuncture - Stimulating the release of the substances of the central nervous system, such as:

Endorphin B (or pain moderator) causes the release of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, improving the stimulation of the ovaries and increasing the production of estrogen, which helps the correct thickening of the endometrium; Serotonin, which is involved in cell division and liver regeneration helps regulates mood and intestinal peristalsis.

 

Non-invasive procedures – Acupuncture and TCM are well known for their therapeutic results without the need for surgery or creating adverse effects. Each consultation is carried out in a discreet personal manner designed to improve your health and wellbeing in an immediate and ongoing sense.

 

Timing of Acupuncture Treatment for IVF

 

It is recommended that from approximately three months prior to the IVF procedure, the couple receive acupuncture treatments for a general fertility boost and to improve and balance their general health. Even a month’s treatment prior to IVF can be significantly beneficial.

 

It is also recommended that 1-24 hours before IVF and 1-24 hours after IVF procedure, which increase the success rate.

 

Once the IVF procedure starts, for the female patient, acupuncture treatments (sometimes in combination with Chinese herbs) will be given according to the different IVF stages, e.g. different acupuncture point combinations will be selected during down regulation and ovarian stimulation etc. Treatments during the IVF cycle are normally carried out on a once a week basis, but flexibility is required to move appointments forwards or backwards according to the IVF progress. Patients are also recommended to come for before & after treatments on the day of embryo transfer to further assist success.

 

 

Timing of Acupuncture treatment from Conception Through Post-Partum

 

Pregnancy – 1st Trimester

Acupuncture can provide relief for some of the most common complaints in early pregnancy, such as nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and headaches. Treatment can also help support a healthy appetite and energy, and help you to avoid medications for ailments like allergies, colds, headaches, and pain syndromes. In addition, acupuncture and TCM can reduce the chances of miscarriage, which is at highest risk during the first trimester.

 

Pregnancy – 2nd Trimester

Though most women are feeling relatively healthy during the 2nd trimester, continued treatment will support fetal growth and healthy development through balancing and strengthening the mother’s energy systems.

 

Pregnancy – 3rd Trimester

Acupuncture helps ease many of the discomforts of the 3rd trimester, such as back pain, sciatica, swelling, and insomnia. Treatment can also gently prepare the body for labor by ensuring smooth circulation of blood and energy to all tissues and organs involved. Patients who get acupuncture treatments throughout the pregnancy, especially the third trimester, report faster and less complicated deliveries.

 

Pregnancy – End Stage (Breech Presentation)

Acupuncture and an adjunctive technique, moxabustion, are quite effective in turning breech babies, especially between weeks 32-37. In a 1998 Italian study, 130 women with breech presentation had daily moxabustion treatments during the 35th week of gestation. The study showed a 75% success rate in turning the breech babies head down. In a Japanese study conducted in 2000, 357 women had daily moxabustion, with a very impressive 92.5% correction rate.7

 

Induction and/or Labor

Treatment with acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in preparing the body for labor as well as shortening the duration and minimizing the intensity of pain levels. It can also assist with relaxation of mind and body in this potentially stressful time.

 

Acupuncture is also a safe method used to induce labors that are overdue and start contractions without the use of drugs. Some patients receive acupuncture for pain relief during labor if the doctor, midwife, hospital or birthing center allow it. Acupressure at certain acupoints on the body during labor has also been shown to provide relief.

 

Post-Partum

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to help mothers recover from delivery. Childbirth is an experience that drains energy, and Chinese herbs especially can provide a much-needed boost to combat the blood loss and fatigue most people experience. A quick recovery by the parent means the best care for the new baby!

 

Further, treatment can help if there are imbalances causing lactation problems or other nursing disorders. It is also possible to speed recovery from cesarean section and reduce the appearance of scars with acupuncture.

 

Once a pregnancy has progressed past the third month, research has proven that acupuncture and TCM can continue to offer safe, effective and natural treatments for such mid to late gestational issues as low back pain,5 breech presentation 6,7 and depression.8

 

Various research studies have demonstrated the efficacy of TCM methods in dealing with the factors that affect fertility both as an adjuvant therapy to ART procedures,3,4,9 particularly in the case of those with a poor prognosis,10 and as a stand-alone intervention.11,12

 

It is believed that acupuncture may improve ovulation through its ability to modulate the central and peripheral nervous systems, the neuroendocrine and endocrine systems, ovarian blood flow and metabolism.13,14,15 It can also increase uterine blood flow, inhibit uterine motility, and relieve depression, anxiety and stress.13

 

Repeated studies have also demonstrated its ability to address issues related to male infertility.16,17,18

 

 

 

1.Acupuncture & IVF by Lifang Liang, 2005, Blue poppy press

 

2. Reasons for infertility, Lister Fertility Clinic, http://www.ivf.org.uk

 

3. Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine, Jane Lyttleton, 2004, Churchill Livingstone

 

4. https://fertilitysuccessrates.com/

 

5. Wolfgang E Paulus, MD, Mingmin Zhang, MD, Erwin Strehler, MD, Imam El-Danasouri, PhD and Karl Sterzik M, Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who     undergo assisted reproduction therapy, Fertility and Sterility, Vol.77, No.4, April 2002

 

6 Neri, I. et al. “Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study.” J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2004. Web. 01/02/2016

 

7 Cardini, F. & Weixin, H. “Moxibustion for Correction of Breech Presentation. A Randomized Controlled Trial.” JAMA. 1998. Web. 01/05/2016

 

8 Manber, R. et al. “Acupuncture for Depression During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2010. Web. 16/02/2016

 

9 Rubin, L.H. et al. “Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes.” Reprod Biomed Online. 2015. Web. 16/01/2016

 

10 Magarelli, P.C. et al. “Acupuncture & IVF Poor Responders: A Cure?” Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center, ColoradoSprings, CO. 2004. Web. 16/01/2016

 

11 Ried, K. & Stuart, K. “Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in the management of female infertility: a systematic review.” Complement Ther Med. 2011 Web. 17/01/2016

 

12 Ried, K. “Chinese herbal medicine for female infertility: an updated meta-analysis.” Complement Ther Med. 2015. Web. 17/01/2016

 

13 Huang, D.M. et al. “Acupuncture for infertility: is it an effective therapy?” Chin J Integr Med. 2011. Web. 02/02/2016

 

14 Stener-Victorin E. & Wu, X. “Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture in the reproductive system.” Auton Neurosci. 2010. Web. 02/02/2016

 

15 Magarelli, P.C. et al. “Changes in serum cortisol and prolactin associated with acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer treatment.” Fertility and Sterility. 2009. Web. 12/02/2016

 

16 Siterman, S. et al. “Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm quality.” Arch Androl. 1997.Web. 17/01/2016

 

17 Dong, C. et al. “Clinical observation and study of mechanisms of needle-picking therapy for primary infertility of abnormal sperm.” Zhen Jiu. 2006. Web. 12/02/2016

 

18 Fu, B. et al. “Effects of the combined therapy of acupuncture with herbal drugs on male immune infertility–a clinical report of 50 cases.” J Tradit Chin Med. 2005. Web. 15/02/2016