Treatment Programmes

There is much information and misinformation about what constitutes a good preconception diet. From a Chinese medicine point of view the middle road is usually the healthiest where moderation of some foods is recommended and a good balance of healthy and fresh fruits and vegetables with adequate protein is encouraged. A TCM practitioner takes into account the different constitution and situation of each individual before dietary advice is given. 

A properly functioning digestive system is an important focus of treatment, so that nutrients are absorbed and utilised well. 

A little bit of weight loss goes a long way to improving fertility. Losing 5 kg is a manageable target for most and you can start now. Just moving your metabolism a little bit in the direction of burning off fat stores, can stimulate ovarian activity, improve egg and sperm quality and increase fertility.

Acupuncture is used to reduce your appetite and improve your metabolism. An analysis of your constitution and the reasons for your weight gain by an experienced acupuncturist will lead to an individualised treatment plan designed to maximise weight loss.  Gentle electro acupuncture applied to points on the body promotes lipolytic activity (destruction of fat cells)  to reduce fat accumulation.
Using acupuncture points on the ear stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve and raises serotonin levels, both of which increase tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach, thus suppressing appetite.

Schedule; Acupuncture 1 – 3 times per week for 1 - 3 months before IVF, or until goal weight is achieved or until you conceive.

The environment that eggs occupy during their lengthy maturation process in the ovary has an impact on what shape they are in before meeting a sperm (with or without an IVF embryologist in attendance).  They need a good blood supply, the right nutrients, the right hormone signals and the capacity to supply enough energy to the embryo.

This has important implications, particularly for eggs that are coming from slightly older ovaries (and possibly for eggs coming from women with PCOS or endometriosis). While no treatment can turn back the clock, or change the DNA, acupuncture and herbs can be used to rejuvenate some oocyte characteristics by improving delivery of  nutrition to the developing egg and enhancing its capacity to make energy thus increasing its chance of making a viable embryo.

 Schedule; Acupuncture once a week, Chinese herbs twice a day for 3 - 6 months

Many clinical trials in several countries have demonstrated the benefit of acupuncture to sperm quality (reference). This is particularly the case where there is low motility or high numbers of abnormal forms.  Acupuncture is applied to the abdomen and the lower legs according to research protocols and your individual constitution.

Schedule: Acupuncture 1 - 2 times per week for 5 - 10 weeks (10 - 15 treatments in total).

If you are considering a pre-conception programme, or if infertility is unexplained, the aim is to maximise sperm and egg quality. To this end we recommend using mild electroacupuncture on points which increase blood flow through the small blood vessels of the testes, improving delivery of nutrients to developing sperm and promoting optimal sperm vitality.

Schedule: Acupuncture: 1 or 2 times per week to complete a course of 10. 

Implantation of the embryo in the uterus is a vital and pivotal event which determines the success of an ongoing pregnancy after conception, or after transfer of an embryo in an IVF cycle.
Recently the crucial role that the immune system plays in the process of implantation and the development of the placenta has been elucidated. A positive finding of immune factors like anti-cardiolipin antibodies, anti- thyroid antibodies or anti-nuclear antibodies can indicate that there may be subtle imbalances in the immune environment of the uterus which are not conducive to establishing a healthy pregnancy.
Acupuncture has proven effects on modulating immune function possibly through its ability to increase endorphins and other neurotransmitters.

Schedule; acupuncture once a week, 3 times a week at time of ovulation, or twice on the day of embryo transfer.

Women with PCOS, particularly those with irregular or infrequent periods, have their own particular challenges when it comes to conceiving.  We don’t yet fully understand the causes of PCOS however we do know that certain acupuncture protocols can reduce some of the factors that operate to prevent polycystic ovaries working properly. For example acupuncture reduces testosterone and LH (luteinising hormone) levels which promotes the conditions for more frequent ovulation and better quality eggs. [references ]

Low intensity gentle electroacupuncture is applied to points on the abdomen and the legs.

Schedule:  Acupuncture 1 - 4 times a week until regular ovulation is re-established, until you conceive or for 3 months to prepare for IVF. 

Endometriosis reduces fertility by damaging ovary function (AMH is reduced) and negatively impacting the immune milieu (inflammatory cytokines are raised) and affecting the lining of the uterus and its implantation sites. Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for reducing the symptoms of endometriosis and for improving fertility and Chinese herbs have been shown to improve response to IVF drugs and fertilisation rates in endometriosis patients. 

Acupuncture is most effective when performed at specific times of your menstrual cycle. These will be decided in conjunction with your practitioner and will depend on your symptom picture and whether you are actively trying to conceive. 

Schedule; Acupuncture once a week or fortnight. Chinese herbs daily (when not taking IVF drugs)

Stress, for most of us living and working in modern cities, is part of life. However it can get a lot worse when you are not conceiving as easily as you thought you would. And in a cruel vicious cycle, stress can have a negative impact on fertility. Women who are more stressed during IVF procedures have lower embryo implantation rates. This is why we do specific acupuncture treatments at particular times of the IVF cycle. 

Acupuncture is well known as an excellent stress reduction therapy. Its ability to raise endorphin levels and reduce adrenalin and cortisol levels allows the body and mind to relax immediately and learn a different way of being. Our patients frequently comment on how relaxed they feel after their treatments and that they don’t know how they would cope without that support.

 Schedule; acupuncture once or twice a week or as required. 

The connection between sleep and fertility is not always self evident, although getting to bed early with your partner may for some couples have obvious benefits.
You may not realise that the quality and quantity of your sleep influences sex hormones, sperm production, ovulation, immune factors, weight gain, mood, stress levels and longevity as well as the more obvious stamina.
Getting enough good quality sleep is an essential part of preparing for conception for all these reasons.

Acupuncture has a proven track record (reviewed in several medical journals) of assisting to establish sound sleep patterns.

Schedule: acupuncture 1-2 treatments per week.

It takes two and this stressful journey is travelled more easily when the two of you do it together, supporting each other. Whether it is unexplained infertility, male factor or ovarian issues, focussing on improving general health and the health of the gametes on both sides often provides the solution when nothing else is working.

Many of the couples we have treated have voiced an appreciation of the emotional and psychological benefits they experience when they come for treatments together. Saturday tends to be couples day in the clinic.

Schedule: 1 treatment per week (see couple package below).

This treatment schedule is based on protocols used in clinical trials which demonstrate increased blood supply to uterus and ovaries (reference) and a beneficial regulation of hormones which may be important to follicle development and implantation (reference). A significant increase in pregnancy rates was reported in these trials also.

Schedule:
2 treatments per week for 4 weeks (optimal) plus treatment at time of embryo transfer.

These treatments are based on protocols used in clinical trials which showed that an increase in pregnancy rates in some groups of women (those for whom the expected pregnancy rate is 30% or less). (You can find the references for these trials here )

Schedule:
a – before or after transfer …… one treatment
b – before and after transfer …… two treatments

Acupuncture can be used to manage any side effects you might experience and reduce anxiety. These treatment protocols are based on the clinical experience of many acupuncturists and their patients. Reduced fatigue, moodiness, abdomen swelling and discomfort and other side effects are reported by many women using acupuncture during their IVF cycle. In addition women report greater relaxation and control of anxiety (reference). The acupuncture treatment will be different for each patient and depends on your symptoms. These treatments can be combined with Schedule 2 above.

Schedule:
1-2 treatments per week as needed.

IVF patients are recommended to have an acupuncture treatment after egg collection, to reduce any local tissue trauma or bleeding, and help prepare a calm environment for the arrival of an embryo. This treatment can be combined with Schedule 2 or 3 above.

Schedule:
1 treatment just after the procedure itself or within the following 2 days.

Sometimes the pressure to produce a sperm sample on the day of egg collection can be significant enough to cause a problem. Acupuncture reduces anxiety and can increase blood flow to the genital area.

Schedule:
1 treatment before sperm donation.

Acupuncture has been demonstrated to have significant immune-modulating effects. This effect may be important in reducing the risk of rejection by the mother’s immune system in the early days as the embryo implants and a pregnancy is established.

In addition regular monitoring of the pulse (a TCM diagnostic technique) and regular treatment with acupuncture designed to reduce anxiety offers you important and reassuring support during these first few weeks of pregnancy. Clinical trials have shown that regular monitoring and reassurance reduces miscarriage rates. Studies in China have shown that Chinese herbs can reduce the incidence of miscarriage in early pregnancy after IVF.

Schedule:
1 treatment per week until week 12 of pregnancy.

You may have had a long journey with plenty of medicial intervention to get this far. Now is the time to relax, let mother nature do her job and enjoy your swelling belly.

However should any minor pregnancy disorders develop, acupuncture can be a useful remedy.

Schedule: 1 treatment per week, or as needed. 

Acupuncture treatment applied in the 4 weeks before the due date for delivery has been shown to reduce medical induction and emergency caesarian rates. It also has been shown to encourage cervical ripening and shorten labour time. [ references ]

Schedule:
1 treatment per week from week 36 of pregnancy.