If you are thinking of having IVF you have probably been trying to get pregnant for at least a year and may feel disappointed and discouraged to see that despite your efforts nothing is happening. Or maybe you have already had IVF once or more, and it has not worked.
The reasons to choose IVF for women include fallopian tubes problems (blocked, damaged, removed), ovulation disorders, premature ovarian failure, fibroids, PCOs, genetic disorders, and unexplained infertility.
The whole process can be financially, physically and emotionally very challenging, and it makes sense to optimise your chances of success as much as possible.
Acupuncture can help greatly without causing undesired side-effects both in preparation and during the IVF process, including and possibly particularly with cases of unexplained infertility, since Chinese medicine diagnosis will identify and treat the problem from a complete different angle to the western medicine system.
I begin treating my patients ideally 3 to 6 months before they begin the protocol, although the treatment helps at any stage. Apart from treating any issues they present with directly, I work on balancing hormone levels, which are so important for the work of the ovaries, as well as improving the quality of the eggs for stronger embryos. Moreover, by increasing the circulation in the uterus, the thickness of the endometrium grows, and this in time facilitates a successful implantation. Stress levels, which are generally quite high during the whole cycle are reduced with the treatment, and side-effects from the IVF drugs that can sometimes be very debilitating, are eased. There is also a now very popular acupuncture protocol for the actual embryo transfer. There are several studies proving its efficiency – one of the last ones in London showed that the chances of pregnancy raise from 21.7% on a regular IVF try to 46.2%. You can read about this study below. The protocol involves a simple acupuncture treatment before and after the transfer.
The women I treat at my Richmond practice present with a whole range of issues and the treatment is tailored to their individual needs at any particular stage of the process.
You can find more information on my IVF support page