When should I use Acupuncture for IVF Support?

Acupuncture has an amazing ability to maximise your chances of  conception by improving your own natural fertility.

How does Acupuncture help IVF?

• Decreasing stress levels
• Improving your sleep patterns
• Stabilizes hormone levels
• Regulating your cycle
• Improving egg quality
• Improving blood and energy flow to the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
• Stimulating production of fertile mucous
• Reducing chances of miscarriage
• Reducing PMT symptoms
• Improving sperm count, motility and morphology.

When do I start?

Ideally you should start acupuncture treatments before you commence on the IVF programme that way you start the cycle in optimum health.

Different times in the cycle require different emphasis : -

• Treatments before the cycle starts focus on your constitution. This is fundamental!! There is something happening in your system that is hindering or preventing conception and we want to address this before an embryo is returned to that system.
• Once the cycle has commenced we want to ensure that the egg quality and quantity is as good as we possibly can. (More emphasis is placed on quality rather than quantity)
• After egg collection treatments focus on the endometrium – quality and thickness as well as replenishing your reproductive energy following the hormone therapy
• Before and after embryo transfer has become an established practice since research came out in support of it . Ideally both treatments are on the day of transfer.
• Supportive treatments leading up to pregnancy test.  Once the embryo is replaced science ends and nature takes over. Acupuncture can support the embryo at this critical time.
• Improving sperm count
  Men should have weekly treatments from the commencement of an IVF cycle to improve sperm count and motility.

Testimonials...

I was lucky enough to be put in touch with Sue Booth for my second stimulated cycle with IVF Australia. After a first stimulated cycle where I had ten eggs collected of which two made it to blast stage, I began treatment with Sue in the lead up to the second egg collection. No-one was more surprised than me when my specialist managed to retrieve 28 eggs, 15 of which have made it to blast stage. And not even a skerrick of OHSS. Not bad for someone of my age (39 last December). I believe that the acupuncture I received from Sue contributed greatly to this success. And now its worked. I am 10 weeks pregnant.

An added benefit of the acupuncture treatment I received from Sue was a major decrease in my level of anxiety in this stressful time. Despite the fact that the fresh transfer from this cycle didn't make it I am much more confident and relaxed about this cycle - and the FETs in front of me - than the previous one.

Sue is a very professional and very easy to talk to. She is clearly highly knowledgable about IVF protocols,  preconception and pregnancy (and birth!) as well having a deep understanding of the more emotional issues patients face when going through assisted conception. I feel like I am in extremely capable hands and I really look forward to our appointments. I would recommend her  (and acupuncture) to any IVF patient in a heartbeat.

(IVF Australia patient 39 years old)

Sue Booth - ACUPUNCTURIST, TRADITIONAL CHINESE HERBALIST, MIDWIFE