Articles

Some good reasons why you should think about having acupuncture before and during your IVF cycle

February 26, 2018/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

There are several good reasons why you should think about having acupuncture before and during your IVF cycle

……..or maybe why you shouldn’t !

Spoiler alert …..

If you are young, and healthy and doing IVF only because of male factor or blocked tubes, acupuncture might not benefit you as much as it could other IVF patients.

UNLESS you are feeling a bit stressed about the whole thing, then you should definitely consider it.

OR if you are planning a frozen embryo transfer, there is a lot you can do to prepare the uterine lining.

Here is all the latest information about Acupuncture and IVF Read More →

Acupuncture and IVF outcomes? Dose matters.

January 6, 2016/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

This article is a response to recently published research (Journal of American Medical Association 2018) on outcomes for IVF patients having acupuncture.

One of our practitioners (Amy Forth) discusses this study by personnel working at Western Sydney University and various IVF clinics in Australia and New Zealand into the effectiveness of acupuncture in relation to IVF success.

The trial, which recruited 800 IVF patients in many different IVF clinics, created an international media response; most articles had titles like this one (from The Conversation). “Acupuncture during IVF doesn’t increase chances of having a baby” which is quite misleading.

We would like to point out that the results of this study do not reflect clinical results, and contradict some of the other IVF and acupuncture studies published in recent years.

What this recent study shows us is, importantly, that DOSE matters!

8 things you should know about the uterine lining, and 6 things you can do to improve implantation of an embryo.

January 4, 2016/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Embryo Preparing to Implant

The implantation of an embryo in the uterus is a crucial early step in establishing a successful pregnancy.

Here we are talking about the first few steps of life ………

This is a hatching blastocyst, ready to find its implantation site and begin life in its new home for the next 9 months.

You can see how busy this little embryo has been just getting this far by clicking here!

Jade Formulas for Functional Female Infertility

April 10, 2015/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: Golden Mirror Publishing, USA
Jane Lyttleton
2013

The chapters in this manual describe the various Jade formulas (sold in the States). They include information that is most useful to TCM doctors, but may also be of interest to women and men who are interested in Chinese herbal medicine. Formulas for functional female infertility follow the menstrual cycle closely. This chapter describes in detail the herbs traditionally used in clinics in China. You can read more about the formulas and their ingredients here.

Jade Formulas for Gynaecological conditions.

April 10, 2015/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: Golden Mirror Publishing, USA
Jane Lyttleton
2013

Gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian disease can impact fertility (and quality of life) significantly. Similarly fibroids and polyps may also impact fertility, or cause troublesome symptoms. And while dysmenorrhoea and premenstrual syndrome are not considered causes of infertility, they will always be addressed by the TCM doctor, since they indicate internal and hormonal imbalances. Chinese medicine has long used herbal medicines to treat these conditions. This chapter describes formulas that are used to treat these conditions, based on traditional and modern usage of Chinese herbs. You can read more about these formulas here.

Jade Formulas for Male Infertility

April 10, 2015/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: Golden Mirror Publishing, USA
Jane Lyttleton 2013
Male infertility, whether it be related to sperm count, motility or morphology has for many hundreds of years been treated with herbal medicine in China, such formulas being based on the constitution. You can find more information about these herbal formulas here.

Can stressing about conceiving prevent it?

April 22, 2014/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Womens Heatlh Magazine, Alice Bliss and others, April 2014

> Click to download PDF
Women's Health writers ask fertility specialists about the sorts of things that women worry about, like the effect of stress on fertility. The effect of acupuncture on stress hormones and on ovary function is highlighted.

Put the Needle on it

August 1, 2013/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Women's Health, Crystelle Coulon, 1st August 2013

> Click to download PDF
Well known Womens Health Mag is promoting acupuncture for women’s health including fertility.

Tiny needles, big impact

June 8, 2013/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Acupuncture has the potential to help many women. Photo: Natalie Boog

Source: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age Paula Goodyer 8th June 2013

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is finding its way into the press often these days. This is because it is occurring more and more frequently especially among young women. It is one of the main causes of infertiity in younger women...

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Fertility Part One

May 1, 2013/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Health Naturally Magazine, Jane Lyttleton, 1st May 2013

> Click to download PDF

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a label being given to more and more young women. The specialists are not yet sure what the cause of this disorder is, but its increasing prevalence is making us wonder if its something we are doing in our modern lifestyles.

Part one of this article looks at all the things that contribute to or influence PCOS. Part Two (following) looks at all the treatment options including acupuncture.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Fertility Part Two

May 1, 2013/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Health Naturally Magazine, Jane Lyttleton, 1st June 2013

> Click to download PDF

Treatment for PCOS is limited but excitingly Chinese medicine is proving to offer good alternatives to pharmaceutical or surgical options. This is especially in the case of women who are not ovulating frequently or who are trying to conceive.

> Click to download PDF

Treatment for PCOS is limited but excitingly Chinese medicine is proving to offer good alternatives to pharmaceutical or surgical options. This is especially in the case of women who are not ovulating frequently or who are trying to conceive.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Makes Fertility Treatments Far More Effective

January 11, 2012/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Medical News Today, 11th Jan 2012

Researchers in israel found that when combining IUI with TCM treatments, 65.5 percent of the test group were able to conceive, compared with 39.4 percent of the control group, who received no herbal or acupuncture therapy. The method is as "close to nature" as possible and can be used by women employing sperm donors, or with their partner's sperm.

Bundles of ways to breed success

November 29, 2011/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Emily Dunn, Nov 29th 2011

There are ways to protect and boost reproductive health for both women and men trying to conceive and for those who think they might one day want to. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is one way.

Acupuncture Treatment for Infertility: Landmark Study Identifies Mechanism for Improved Pregnancy Outcomes in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

September 30, 2010/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ Lorne Brown, September 30, 2010

Acupuncture has been shown to regulate the stress hormones that impact ovulation, in an IVF setting. This coincides with another recent study showing that elevated markers for stress are associated with decreased pregnancy rates.

IVF Alternatives – Acupuncture and Conception

December 22, 2009/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Sun Herald and Sydney Morning Herald online, Paula Goodyer, December 20, 2009

Acupuncture and IVF might come from opposite sides of the medical fence, but there's growing interest in combining them. Some studies show an improvement in pregnancy rates if acupuncture is used at embryo transfer, says Jane Lyttleton, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who works in partnership with IVF clinics. "We need more research to understand how it works," she says. Adds fertility specialist Dr Gavin Sacks of IVF Australia: "On balance, the research shows there may be a benefit. Some IVF clinics have taken it up, and I think it's worth exploring. I don't tell women they should have acupuncture - but if they ask what they can do to improve their chances, I encourage them to try it."

Relaxation boosts IVF success rate

October 20, 2009/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: ABC Science, Maggie Fox, October 20 2009

Taking a deep breath and relaxing may help women undergoing IVF treatment to become pregnant sooner, according to a US study.

Acupuncture promising for infertility in PCOS

April 10, 2009/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: Medical Observer, Rada Rouse, April 10th 2009

ACUPUNCTURE may be useful in combating infertility among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Australian research suggests.

Acupuncture helps women have babies

September 28, 2008/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: The Observer, Denis Campbell - Health Correspondant, 28 September 2008

Women undergoing fertility treatment are far more likely to successfully give birth if they also have acupuncture, a major scientific study has concluded.

IVF and acupuncture – early promise for increase in take home baby rates

August 12, 2008/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source:Wall Street Journal Digital Network, Kaerie Ray, August 12 2008

An analysis of nearly six hundred patients treated at an IVF clinic in California with acupuncture reveals a 23% increase in live births.

Human egg makes accidental debut on camera

June 11, 2008/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: New Scientist, Linda Geddes, 11 June 2008

One picture tells a thousand words and these remarkable pictures of an egg slowly emerging from its follicle show us one of those magic events, in particular one that IVF patients and women trying to conceive are focused on.

Fertility spike from acupuncture

February 9, 2008/in Articles, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: The Australian, Adam Cresswell, Health editor, February 09, 2008

WOMEN having IVF treatment can boost their chances of falling pregnant by 65 per cent simply by having acupuncture. A review combining the results of seven previous studies has found that acupuncture increases the chances of having an ongoing pregnancy - and nearly doubles the chance of a successful live birth.

Clinical Handbook of Internal Medicine

February 14, 2019/in Books, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source, Eastland Press (2019)

The second edition of a series of 3 texts by Will Maclean and Jane Lyttleton, are now all updated and in one cover. Some call this the Bible or the Merck Manual of internal Chinese medicine.

Gynecology in Chinese Medicine

May 6, 2015/in Books /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: PMPH. You Jiao Ling, Jane Lyttleton 2015

People’s Medical Publishing House is China’s preeminent publisher of texts in Science and Medicine. Recently they have released a series of texts for Chinese medicine students and doctors, written by top specialists in the field. This text is written by Dr You, a renowned gynaecologist, in collaboration with Jane Lyttleton.

Clean and Lean Pregnancy Guide

January 22, 2014/in Books, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Kyle Books, UK, James Duigan, 2014

When author James and his wife Christiane had difficulty conceiving they turned to Chinese medicine for help. Once they succeeded in becoming pregnant it was an impetus to develop their programme of Clean and Lean diet books to Pregnancy.

It includes a section called Infertility Explained by Jane Lyttleton Click to download PDF

Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine

May 1, 2013/in Books, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Elsevier Science, Jane Lyttleton, May 2013

This text, written in plain english, for doctors of Chinese medicine and other health professionals or patients interested in knowing more about treatment options, provides an accessible and thorough description of all aspects of the treatment of female and male infertility with Chinese medicine.

Jade Woman Jade Man Herbals

December 22, 2011/in Books, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Golden Mirror Publishing, USA, Jane Lyttleton, December 2011

A series of formulations (distributed in the States) based on classical Chinese herbal scripts for fertility and other gyneacological concerns, modified to incorporate modern research findings. Downloads of all the chapters of this book can be found here.

How to Improve Your ART Success Rates: An Evidence-Based Review of Adjuncts

January 22, 2011/in Books, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Cambridge University Press, Gab Kovacs Ed, 2011

Chapter 41 describes the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the benefits it confers on the patient undergoing IVF By Prof Sheryl Lacy and Assoc Prof Caroline Smith.

Infertility and Assisted Reproduction

November 22, 2008/in Books, In the News /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: Cambridge University Press, Botros Rizk et al Ed, Nov 2008

The latest text published on assisted reproduction technology includes a chapter on the benefits of acupuncture as an integral part of the IVF cycle.

Should IVF patients have acupuncture?

February 24, 2016/in In the News, Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Specifically, should they have acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer – there has been a lot of research examining this question.

Or should IVF patients have acupuncture during the whole cycle? Its not for everyone

– see the evidence here.

You can help the uterine lining and improve Implantation

December 30, 2015/in In the News, Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Electro-stimulation of certain acupuncture points can help your uterine lining to develop a three layer structure that is favourable to implantation.

Click here to find out more……

A blastocyst is born

July 5, 2015/in In the News, Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Watch the magic of time lapse photography tracking a newly fertilised egg as it becomes a Blastocyst and bursts out of its skin!

Practitioners at the Acupuncture Pregnancy clinic love their work

May 12, 2015/in Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Clinical trials at the Acupuncture IVF Support Clinic

April 22, 2011/in Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy

Source: Nine MSN, Gabriella Rogers, 22nd April 2011

Channel Nine interviews Delia McCarthy, at the Maroubra Acupuncture IVF Support Clinic and Caroline Smith, Research consultant about the trial to be conducted, examining the effect of acupuncture on IVF outcomes.

To view this programme please see MSN archives.

Acupuncture aids IVF conception: study

October 22, 2008/in Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: News.Ninemsn.com.au, Tamara McLean, 22nd October 2008

Getting acupuncture during IVF treatment could significantly increase a woman's chance of a successful pregnancy, a controversial new study has found. A review presented at a medical conference in Brisbane shows that acupuncture administered for 25 minutes both before and after an embryo is transferred to the uterus improves the likelihood of a live birth. On the basis of the current level of evidence we have, if nine women have acupuncture around the time of embryo transfer with IVF there will be one extra live born baby," said lead researcher of the New Zealand study, Professor Neil Johnson, medical director of Fertility Plus in Auckland."That figure looks pretty good, especially to women wanting to do all they can to have a baby.

Human ovulation captured on film

June 1, 2008/in Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: New Scientist, Steven Gordts, LIFE , June 2008

This a realtime video of an ovulation taken by researchers at the Leuven Institute for Fertility & Embryology in Belgium.A small amount of saline was used to float the opening of the fallopian tube, its fimbriae (the "fingers" that sweep the egg into the tube) and the ovary itself. In the video, the fimbriae can be seen sweeping in time with the patient's heartbeat. A mucus plug can be seen protruding from the ovary – this contains the egg.

Improving the Odds of IVF

April 3, 2008/in Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: Catalyst, ABC TV, Mark Horstman, 3 April 2008

In April 2008 the ABC science programme Catalyst aired a report on acupuncture research which was carried out in Adelaide by Caroline Smith and her colleages with IVF patients. It was called "Improving the Odds of IVF" and you can watch it on the following link www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2008/04/03/2205046.htm

One of the changes sweeping through our society this century is that women are having fewer children, later in life. That may explain why the use of IVF to assist pregnancy is growing by up to 15% a year in Australia. But experts say that science and technology has reached a plateau, and improvements in the success of these fertility treatments may only come from entirely different medical traditions – like acupuncture. Mark Horstman travels to Beijing and Adelaide to find out.

Animated IVF cycle

June 1, 2006/in Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: ABC

Click here to see an animated sequence describing the steps in an IVF cycle.

How to make stress your friend

June 1, 2003/in Online Videos /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source: TED talks, Kelly McGonigal, June 2013

Kelly McGonigals TED talk on reframing stress: Is it time to change the way we think about stress? It certainly appears to be the case when mortality related to stress is examined. We would like to know if befriending rather than avoiding stress might be helpful for infertile couples. And in the meantime for those who cannot avoid stress, acupuncture has an excellent track record for helping to manage it, so that it doesnt affect sleep or well being.

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An Easy Aid to Weight Loss?

July 22, 2017/in In the News, Television /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source; msn news, 18th April 2017

Some overweight women and some women with PCOS have a hard time controlling their blood sugar levels, and this can make dieting and weight loss particularly difficult. Amazingly it appears that just one electroacupuncture treatment can reduce blood sugar, in much the same way that vigorous exercise does. Repeated electroacupuncture treatments also improve ovary function in PCOS patients.

Acupuncture and Period Pain

July 22, 2017/in In the News, Television /by Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic

Source; SBS News, AAP. 18th July 2017

Our colleagues at Western Sydney Uni have released a paper proving something many of our patients already know, acupuncture helps period pain. And the effects last up to a year. When period pain improves, not only does quality of life look up, but we know from our TCM understanding that removing the stasis causing the pain, can also be seen as a marker of improved fertility.

See the full SBS news report here

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