Starting an IVF or IUI cycle can be exciting and stressful all at once. The process can be both taxing physically and emotionally. I am happy to be able to provide my patients with much-needed emotional and physical support during this time. As studies show, and as I have seen personally in my own clinic, acupuncture and Maya Abdominal Therapy can help improve outcomes. Patients who have had previously failed IVF cycles often go on to have successful cycles with the additional of acupuncture.
How does it work?
Acupuncture:
Improves blood flow to ovaries to increase egg quality and egg quantity. Increased blood flow both nourishes the eggs and removes waste and toxins.
Balances the hormones so that the ovaries respond more effectively to the medicines to produce a larger number of follicles. I have had success in lowering high FSH and prolactin levels and in raising AMH levels.
Helps with implantation by increasing blood flow and circulation to the uterus and reduces uterine contractions post transfer.
Improves digestion to build blood, qi, yang, and yin. Almost 99% of my patients need digestive support. In fact, I have found that digestion is the root cause of most fertility issues.
Increases thin uterine lining. Acupuncture can help patients who have a thin lining (less than 8 mm). Fertility drugs such as Clomid can thin the uterine lining and decrease cervical mucus; I have had success reversing this negative side effect.
Treats the side effects of IVF and IUI medications. It can treat night sweats, headaches, irritability, bloating, water retention, insomnia, and anxiety.
Supports the body during procedures. Helps with post egg retrieval discomfort and pain. Acupuncture reduces the chances of hyperstimulation by helping the body to clear out medications, reduce bloating, cramping, and swelling. If you are undergoing a fresh transfer cycle (versus a frozen cycle), it is also helpful to receive at least one treatment in between the retrieval and transfer in order to best support the liver to clear out the hormones and increase blood flow and circulation to the uterus.
Reduces stress, helps digestion, and supports better sleep. IVF is a stressful process and acupuncture does a great job of moving the qi and nourishing the heart to reduce frustration and anxiety. Decreasing stress (parasympathetic response) means that there is increased blood flow to the ovaries and uterus.
Improves semen quality and quantity. Good sperm quality is as important as egg quality in creating a healthy embryo. Male fertility has dropped by half in the last 20 years. Age also affects male fertility. (Sperm counts falling). I have had a high rate of success in improving motility, morphology, and total motile count. Sperm quality cannot yet be determined microscopically so use of ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection: where a single sperm is chosen by a technician and injected into an egg) may not produce an embryo as healthy in the case in which the sperm has naturally fertilized the egg. (The rate of birth defects was 6.2% compared to 4.1% in IVF babies and 2.4% among naturally conceived babies.) Here’s a study about how acupuncture can help increase sperm quality and count.
Decreases the chance of miscarriage. A healthy embryo and healthy lining increases the chances of carrying full term. Treatment during pregnancy especially during the first 14 weeks also increases the chances of safely carrying full term.
In one study, pre and post acupuncture increased the pregnancy rate by 16.2%.
Maya Abdominal Therapy:
Centers the uterus to increase blood flow and circulation to the ovaries and uterus.
Treats retroverted uterus, tilted uterus, and prolapsed uterus.
Helps reduce scar tissue, including uterine adhesions (Asherman’s Syndrome).
Increases thin uterine lining.
Improves digestion to increase blood and nourishment and decrease bloating and constipation.
Improves sperm quality, digestion, and lower abdominal circulation.
“Shirliey is a wonderful practitioner and I can not recommend Wealth Acupuncture enough. I started seeing Shirliey for Mayan abdominal massage and acupuncture prior to IVF. She was an integral member of my care team getting my body prepared for egg retrieval and transfer, and then remained a key support in helping me navigate pregnancy concerns (slowed digestion, sleep, and stress relief) and facilitating a healthy delivery (I am currently holding my 10-day old baby as I write this). ”