Fertility Acupuncture
Answering FAQs on all things Fertility, IVF, Natural Conception and more..
Why try acupuncture first?
Safe, 100% natural, effective results, cost effective and minimally invasive!
So, how does acupuncture help with fertility?
Where do I start?! It is scientifically proven that Acupuncture improves the blood flow to uterus and ovaries. It increases blood flow to the follicles which results in healthier eggs and embryos. Furthermore, acupuncture has been shown to improve the quality of follicular fluid.
SO, if you’re TTC, it is important to focus on improving your menstrual cycle, so you know you’re building a healthy endometrium, which ultimately sets the stage for a healthy pregnancy.
And guess whats proven to be great at improving the blood flow to the uterus & the health of the uterine lining (the Stener Victorin research protocol) ..ACUPUNCTURE! As well as other diet and lifestyle strategies that I will discuss with you throughout your fertility treatments here at GLOWbody.
What should I expect for fertility acupuncture at GLOWbody?
Your initial visit should include an in-depth consultation. Questions may not immediately seem to be related to infertility but are important for the practitioner to determine the ideal therapy for you.
I will use a variety of points in an effort to enhance fertility or blood flow to certain organs. Acupuncture points may vary on the head to promote relaxation, while points around the stomach will help open up the supply of fresh blood to the ovaries. Other points around the lower legs are used to promote blood flow to the reproductive organs, which starts at the feet.
Needles are left in for around 25-45 minutes while you relax in our calming room.
Follow-up visits are shorter and usually don’t include a consultation, perhaps a small discussion on your progress and changes/ improvement you are already noticing in your sleep, mood, stress levels etc.
Why are hormones such a huge factor for infertility?
Hormonal imbalances occur in both sexes, can occur at any age, & are always accompanied by unpleasant problems such as lack of energy, reduced libido, infertility, irregular menstrual cycles and mood swings. Acupuncture has been proven to be effective when treating hormonal imbalances.
“When a woman is stressed, high levels of the hormone cortisol disrupt the flow of fertility hormones like progesterone. “Acupuncture helps lower cortisol, thereby helping women de-stress and make fertility easier,” - Kulas 2017
Acupuncture promotes endorphins and help balance your hormones which improve your sleep patterns, mood, stress levels and ultimately improve your chances of conceiving naturally.
Are there any risks with trying acupuncture when trying to conceive?
This practice is safe, but it's important to seek out a certified and licensed professional who's familiar with infertility care. Book in with the team at GLOWbody to ensure you receive the best care and best results.
Fertility, IVF, Endometriosis, PCOS, TTC, Period Issues, IUI, Freezing Eggs, Hormone Imbalances
Today reproductive acupuncture is making its way into the mainstream as a scientifically justified fertility treatment. Research has shown that acupuncture in conjunction with other fertility treatments increases success rates by 50%. It is pain free and will also relieve stress, improve sleep and help you relax, which also may increase your chances of getting pregnant. I highly recommend trying acupuncture before anything else as it is 100% natural and very successful at realigning your hormones which is known to be a large factor that causes infertility.
Does having Acupuncture increase the likelihood of success with IVF?
Clinical research seems to suggest it does. One German study took 160 women* undergoing IVF and split them into two groups. One group combined acupuncture with IVF and one group did not. Interestingly the group that did the acupuncture had a 50% better outcome than the group that did IVF alone. You can read a BBC article about this study here. In 2008 research published in the British Medical Journal showed that women* doing IVF who underwent acupuncture were 65% more likely to have a successful embryo transfer compared with those who underwent a “sham” version of the treatment, or no extra treatment at all. You can read about this study here.
How does IVF Support at GLOWbody work?
Whilst acupuncture works for some people straight away, it doesn’t necessarily work overnight and the effects tend to be cumulative so, ideally, we would like to see our patients once a week in the three months leading up to IVF. If this isn’t possible, we recommend coming in to see us when you start your IVF cycle. We see our patients once-twice a week when they are taking the follicle-stimulating drugs and we like to schedule treatment a few days before egg retrieval as well as before the embryo transfer. Finally, we ask our patients to come in for treatment after (the same day post) the embryo transfer so that we can do an acupuncture treatment to prevent the uterine spasm, use holding points to prevent bleeding and increase chances of success. We again will do another treatment or two the following week prior to your blood test. This is all personalised for each person so we will discuss this with you in person to make a clearer plan for you.
A recent 2020 study on IVF vs IVF + Acupuncture!
The results don’t lie! In a March 2022 study a study was publishing showing that Acupuncture may be effective in improving pregnancy success rates for women undergoing IVF & the results are incredible!!!
63.9% of women who received Acupuncture while undergoing IVF procedure were successful in falling pregnant that round. While in the IVF-only group, only 33.3% of those participants fell pregnant that round.
Not only that but the women who had Acupuncture during this study had a higher clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy and live birth rate aswell as significantly lower anxiety than women without Acupuncture.
The study was a randomized controlled trial. It involved 72 women undergoing IVF who were split evenly into groups that either received acupuncture during IVF or a control group that only underwent IVF alone.
What is IUI and can Acupuncture help with my IUI?
Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, has become increasingly common and often one of the first interventions offered to those struggling to conceive. IUI is the process of placing sperm into the uterus without intercourse. Today the sperm is placed in sterile fluid, which is then concentrated to a small volume and injected, through a catheter inserted through the cervix, directly into the uterus. To increase the chances of success, doctors often prescribe fertility drugs for the week before ovulation to stimulate the ovaries to mature several eggs. There may also be a “trigger shot” to induce ovulation at a very specific time in order to coordinate the IUI procedure most effectively.
Acupuncture can improve success rates of IUI by increasing blood flow to the ovaries during a medicated cycle, relaxing the uterus so it is more receptive to the treatment, and can address uterine spasms that may occur after the IUI procedure. Acupuncture simultaneously works to enhance the fertility drugs prescribed by your doctor, and offset side effects you may experience from the medications. Additionally, acupuncture reduces stress and anxiety inviting your body to rest and restore.
Here at GLOWbody we usually see patients doing IUI once a week throughout the process, again the same day (post IUI) however we increase the frequency of appointments if necessary.
Fertility Acupuncture for Couples + Men
When patients come to GLOWbody for fertility treatment we always ask if they or their partner, if they have one, has had a semen analysis. Women* who are not getting pregnant often assume that the problem lies with them and many are surprised to find out that for 40% of infertile couples the problem is male factor*.
The semen analysis measures a number of aspects of male fertility
Semen Count – Anything over 20 million sperm per milliliter is considered normal.
Morphology – This measures the shape of the sperm. A sample is considered normal if more than 30% of the sperm is a regular shape. But some labs assess morphology differently so it’s important to consult your doctor on what is normal.
Motility – This looks at whether the sperm can swim and are able to move forward. A sample where more than 60% of the sperm has a good forward motion is considered normal.
Volume – This measures the semen volume with any measurement between 1 ml and 6.5 ml being considered normal.
Liquefaction – When semen is first produced it has a gel-like consistency. This gel is formed by proteins from the seminal vesicles which are broken up as the semen becomes more liquid. It normally takes less than 20 minutes for a semen sample to change from a gel to a liquid. An abnormally long liquefaction time may indicate an infection.
Other – the test may also look for white blood cells that may indicate an infection, the PH of the sample, and fructose levels.
The good news is that new sperm generates every 72 days and so they can affect their fertility quite quickly by making lifestyle adjustments. However, it is also important that they see an MD to make sure that there are no underlying hormonal or structural problems that are affecting their reproductive ability.
For relationships with a male partner, men often get neglected in the fertility process. Supporting a male partner’s health is often the secret to solving a couple’s fertility problems. Each intervention may seem small but together they combine to tip the odds in the couple’s favor and help them to conceive a child.
And that’s teamwork: both halves of a couple working to improve their health to have the healthiest baby possible along combined with gentle, effective treatments to enhance fertility for both men and women.
Fertility + GLOWbody Fertile Tea?
At GLOWbody we use Chinese medicine to treat fertility-related problems such as PCOS, endometriosis, luteal phase defect, irregular cycles, and amenorrhea. We also support thousands of women a year as they go through IVF and other assisted reproductive techniques. Why does it work? The acupuncture increases blood flow to the ovaries and the uterus to support a healthy ovarian follicle and uterine lining. It also decreases inflammation and corrects subtle hormone imbalances. Our Fertile Tea is a herbal blend designed to support a woman’s natural rhythms and to address complex disorders as it supports your reproductive health + chance to conceive. The ingredients in our Fertile Tea help improve & nourish the reproductive system. It includes lots of warming herbs that should soothe your cycle and help warm & improve your blood flow. It includes chaste tree (vitex) which is a vital herb to stop pain, pre menstrual syndrome & helps stimulate progesterone.
Whats the best time in my cycle to begin Fertility Acupuncture/ When should I start?
Why wait? Start now and reap the rewards sooner rather than later! During your first fertility acupuncture appointment we will discuss & recommend timeframes for your own fertility treatment plan at GLOWbody.
