Our practitioners are experienced with acupuncture IVF support.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture have long history of treating infertility. The use of acupuncture in assisting IVF had been recognised as a complementary method to increase the success by 35% (sources). Moreover, by adding Chinese herbal medicine, in our experience, the increase can be doubled.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) and other artificial reproductive techonology (ART) such as IUI and ICSI have been an increasing demand in couple with difficulty to fall pregnant naturally. In Western Australia, 1 out of 5 couples have trouble of fertility during the age of 25-37.
What makes us different?
The synthetical combination of Western Medicine and Chinese Medicine make our treatment protocol more practical an effective. Kim employs her rich knowledge and experience of both conventional medical sciences and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She will carefully analyse the clinical result such as blood test and ultra-sound result, therefore choose the right acupuncture points at right stage of treatment based on the symptoms of each individual case.
How Chinese medicine and Acupuncture help IVF?
Abundant researches suggest acupuncture increase the IVF successful rate in the following ways:
1) Increase the blood flow aids oxygenation therefore more nutriment can be carried to the developing follicles and positively influence egg quality and quantity. It is been recognised that increased uterine perfusion in the early follicular phase enhances the pregnancy rate of IVF in women aged 40 and above.
3) Reduce the anxiety and stress level during the IVF process. It can be quite exhausted, painful and stressful when you are doing all those hormone injection, ultra sound, as well as dealing with the clinical results. Emotional status strongly influence on IVF result in terms of pelvic circulation and endocrine balance. In our clinic, we pay attention to sooth the mind, improve confidence and restore the internal balance to be able to coupe with the IVF process better.
A Chinese medicine clinical protocol of IVF support
Preparation: It is recommended that patient starts Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture combination treatment approximately 3 months prior to the IVF procedure.
In progress:
Stimulation phase: Acupuncture, in this phase, helps body to better react on the hormone therefore optimise the quality and quantity of eggs. Our practitioner will also carefully analyse your quality and quantity of follicles, hormone result and your signs and symptoms. One to two sessions of acupuncture during the hormone injection is recommended.
On the day of embryo transfer: In this stage, two acupuncture treatments are conducted, one immediately prior to and one immediately after the transfer.
After Embryo Transfer to pregnancy test: It is recommended to have one or two treatments before the due date of pregnancy test. Acupuncture in this stage can help to maintain the progesterone and sending more blood flow to the uterus to thickening the lining and nourish the embryo. In cases where there is a history of miscarriage one or two more treatments in the weeks following as well as a weekly treatment after a positive pregnancy test until first trimenster may also be recommende
If you are about to begin your IVF cycle and haven’t left time for the lead up treatment, using acupuncture on the day of transfer only will still improve your chances of a positive pregnancy outcome.