Fertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Support – Well Beings Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

Assisted Reproductive Technology Chinese Medicine Support

IVF Invitro- fertilization
ICSI Intracytoplasmic sperm injection of eggs
FET Frozen Embryo Transfer

** There are many different ways to reach the one goal**

At Well Beings, we understand that everyone’s circumstances are different and as such, you can commence acupuncture and Chinese medicine fertility treatments at any stage of the IVF process. Our treatment plans are integrative and will work with your goals every step of the way.
For optimal results, it is recommended to commence your treatments with us at least 4 months prior to starting IVF, to prepare your body adequately.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help to improve the success rate of the IVF process in a number of ways:

Manipulate and stabilise oestrogen and progesterone hormones to support the four phases of the menstrual cycle
Regulate the hormones to produce larger number of follicles
Promote ovulation and improve egg quality
Increase ovarian response
Improve ovarian and uterine blood flow
Improve quality and thickness of the endometrium
Improve sperm count, motility and morphology
Facilitate embryo implantation
Decrease chances of miscarriage
Decrease stress levels
Relieve the side effects of drugs used in IVF
Strengthen the immune system
Increase implantation rates

Clinical observations from ultrasound following acupuncture treatments show:

The colour of womans ovaries, change from cloudy to bright and clear.
The follicles usually at least double in number
The lining of the uterus becomes thicker
The number of embryos increases significantly.

(Reference: Liang,. L(2003). Acupuncture & IVF: Increase IVF success by 40-60%).

Research:

J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2017 Mar; 18(3): 186–193. Use of electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in reproductive medicine: a group consensus.

A systematic review published in 2011 concluded that Chinese Herbal Medicine can improve pregnancy rates 2-fold within a 4-month period compared with Western Medical fertility drug therapy or IVF. (Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in the management of female infertility: A systematic review. Karen Reid, Keren Stuart).

Zhang R et al, Fertil Steril 2011, 96, 4 Pg 912-916.Fertility and Sterility Acupuncture and Embryo Transfer; Increase of success rate for woman undergoing embryo transfer by transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation: A prospective randomised placebo- controlled study. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4020380/

Kong S et al, Volume (2014), Article ID 146383, 16 pages Evidence-Based Comp and Altern Med Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Acupuncture, herbs and endometriosis: Complementary and alternative medicine for endometriosis: A review of utilisation and mechanism.
This very thorough review compares results of treatment of endometriosis with acupuncture or herbal therapies and pharmaceutical or surgical approaches. A number of therapies, including using Chinese herbs per rectum, obtained great relief for patients, but without the side effects caused by drugs or surgery.

Zheng YH et al, Jnl of Alt and Comp Med, 2013 Sep;19(9):740-5. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Acupuncture, Herbs and PCOS: Effectiveness of abdominal acupuncture for patients with obesity-type polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomised controlled trial.
When overweight PCOS patients were given acupuncture treatment twice a week for 6 months, using points on the abdomen, they responded better than those given Metformin for the same period of time, in terms of increased frequency of ovulation and weight loss.

Lim CED et al, Aust J Acupunct Chin Med 2009;4(2):12-17. Australian Journal Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Clinical Observation of Chinese Medicine Treatment on Secondary Dysmenorrhoea Associated with Endometriosis.
Endometriosis: This pilot study, a collaboration between Guangzhou Medical University in China and RMIT university in Melbourne, is particularly interesting to us since it measured objective parameters such as immune factors (antigens and antibodies) shown to be abnormally raised in patients with endometriosis. A course of treatment with Chinese herbs not only improved pain but significantly reduced the levels of these immune factors. This is one way that Chinese medicine may improve fertility in endometriosis.

Johansson J et al, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2013 May 1;304(9):E934-43
American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism. This trial showed that repeated acupuncture treatments increased ovulation frequency in PCOS patients and abnormally high ovarian and adrenal hormone levels were reduced.

Sui Y et al, 2012, Vol 3, p 409–430 Obesity Reviews

PCOS patients are not always overweight but for those with insulin resistance getting on top of weight gain can be difficult. This review reports that in terms of weight loss, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are better than placebo and lifestyle interventions and have similar efficacy to antiobesity drugs (including Metformin), but with fewer side effects. This review also noted that those who used acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine to lose weight had a lower risk of relapse.

Fan Qu et al, Sci Rep Nature, (2014), 4, Article number: 5028, Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing. 300 women who were doing IVF due to blocked tubes, were randomised into groups that received stimulation to auricular acupuncture points (small seeds were taped onto 3 points related to nervous system or ovary and uterus function) or to sham points or no treatment. The women in the active treatment group had a markedly higher pregnancy rate than did those in the sham or control groups. Additionally they reported less stress and anxiety.

Hawkins LK et al, J Assist Repro Genet (2014) 31: 255-260.
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. Perceptions among infertile couples of lifestyle behaviors and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) success. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3947066/ Acupuncture was one of several factors investigated in the surveys that 200 IVF patients in the USA completed recently. 63% of them considered that acupuncture was helpful for women having IVF.

MacPherson H et al, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001518 PLOS Medicine. Acupuncture and Counselling for Depression in Primary Care: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Women (and men) who are preparing themselves to have a baby, often wish to avoid taking medication, including antidepressants. A trial in the UK found that ten sessions of acupuncture alongside usual care, showed a significant reduction of depression 3 months later compared to those who did not have acupuncture. They found that counselling added a similar benefit. Such results give patients who wish to withdraw off medication, the confidence to use a tool like acupuncture.

Grant LE, Cochrane S, AJACM 2014, vol 9 Issue 1, pg 5 Australian Journal of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Acupuncture for the Mental and Emotional Health of Women Undergoing IVF Treatment:A Comprehensive Review.

This comprehensive review indicates the acupuncture helps to reduce the anxiety and stress experienced by IVF patients and improves the way that IVF cycles are managed, and that better outcomes may be a result.

to be continued ….