Being under weight affects ovary function, as much as being over weight does (although in a different way). Acupuncture can help to regulate the sympathetic nervous system (reducing adrenalin) and improve appetite. In conjunction with behavioural and dietary modifications this can help to put weight on.
One of the things mentioned a lot in a traditional Chinese medicine gynaecology textbook, is the term “Regulating the Cycle”. What this refers to is the ideal of a 28 day menstrual cycle (give or take a few days), and a regular ovulation occurring around the middle of that cycle. This is one of the first aims of much TCM treatment of gynaecological disorders. A regular menstrual cycle is an indication of good ovary function and good hormone balance.
Schedule: acupuncture once a week for 3 cycles.
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.
The crucial role that the immune system plays in the process of implantation and the development of the placenta is gradually being elucidated though there is much we still don’t know. A positive finding of immune factors like anti-cardiolipin antibodies, anti- thyroid antibodies, anti-nuclear antibodies or an excess of some types of NK cells can indicate that there may be subtle imbalances in the immune environment of the uterus which are not conducive to establishing a healthy pregnancy.
Most women diagnosed with immune factors affecting fertility will be prescribed drugs to dampen the immune system and/or to reduce blood clotting. Although we are awaiting research to elucidate mechanisms, some patients will choose to have acupuncture as an adjunct therapy. We know that acupuncture is effective at increasing endorphins and other neurotransmitters, and it is thought that acupuncture may modulate immune function through this action. While we don’t yet know the mechanism, the increase in implantation rates in some of the acupuncture studies on IVF patients has been suggested to possibly be related to a regulation of intra-uterine immune factors.
Schedule; acupuncture once a week, twice a week at time of ovulation, or on the day of embryo transfer. Read More →
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 some studies show that acupuncture reduces testosterone and LH (luteinising hormone) levels promoting the conditions for more frequent ovulation and better quality eggs. (references)
Patients with PCOS who are trying to conceive naturally or planning to do IVF, may benefit from doing a course of acupuncture over 3 to 4 months to improve ovary function. For those PCOS patients who do IVF, certain acupuncture protocols during the stimulation phase and after embryo transfer have been shown to reduce the risk of hyperstimulation.
Low intensity gentle electro-acupuncture is applied to points on the abdomen and the legs.
Suggested Schedule: Acupuncture 1 – 3 times a week until regular ovulation is re-established, until you conceive or for 3 months to prepare for IVF.
Endometriosis can damage ovary function (AMH is reduced in endometriosis patients) and can negatively impact the immune milieu (inflammatory cytokines are raised) and affects the lining of the uterus and its implantation sites. We use acupuncture to manage the symptoms of endometriosis like pain and menstrual disturbance. Chinese herbs are sometimes used in China to improve response to IVF drugs and pregnancy rates in endometriosis patients.
Acupuncture is best performed at specific times of the menstrual cycle. These will be decided in conjunction with your practitioner and will depend on your symptom picture and whether or not you are actively trying to conceive.
Suggested Schedule: Acupuncture once a week or fortnight. Chinese herbs daily (when not taking IVF drugs)
Obstructions to implantation, such as polyps or fibroids, are usually removed surgically. In the case that surgery is not desired, and fibroids are not large, then Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of being used to shrink them. Some of the symptoms caused by ovarian cysts (such as pain or cycle irregularity) may also be amenable to treatment with Chinese herbs and acupuncture.
Suggested Schedule: Acupuncture once per week for 2 – 3 cycles, herbs daily.
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 have reduced fertility, and during IVF cycles have lower embryo implantation rates. Stress has also been shown to affect semen quality.
For all these reasons acupuncture can be useful at specific times of the menstrual or the IVF cycle.
Acupuncture is well known for its ability to relax the patient and this has been demonstrated in an IVF setting. Its action in raising endorphin levels and reducing 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.
Suggested 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 traveled more easily when the two of you do it together, supporting each other. Whether it is unexplained infertility, male factor or ovarian issues, focusing 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 our couples day in the clinic.
Schedule: 1 treatment per week (see couples fee package).