Acupuncture and IVF/ICSI
At the Clinic Acupuncture is used alongside Western Fertility treatments as it may help to enhance their effectiveness. Jackie will always be flexible and ensure an appropriate treatment day/time is found as timing may be critical to improving the outcomes.
Treatment options vary and will be discussed at the initial consultation. Treatment may begin a month before your treatment, bi-weekly to help prepare your body, or may begin when treatment starts. Acupuncture will work alongside the drug plan and treatment will be at key times during the process:
(1) Down Regulation - Approx once during down-regulation when on the long protocol to help relax the body and uterus, and support your organ functions . This may be required twice if having treatment at Salisbury and down regulating for longer. This is not required if you are on the shorter antagonist cycle. Costs are £38 per treatment.
(2) Stimulation - Approx. two treatments during the stimulation phase, ideally either side of the first stimulation scan. The aim is to help increase blood flow to the ovaries and thicken the endometrium. Costs are £38 per treatment.
(3) Embryo Transfer - Two treatments either side of Embryo Transfer, ideally within a 24-48hr period. These treatments will follow a set protocol based on good western research (the Paulus protocol) proven to significantly enhance success rates. A relaxation CD by Zita West aimed at enhancing the treatment will be used, and left for use during the two week wait. These two treatments are offered in the patients home at a cost of £90 for the two if in Poole/Bournemouth and £120 if outside of these areas.
Click here for information on the Paulus research study
How Acupuncture may improve the outcome of fertility treatment
§ It may ensure that your ovaries and uterus respond well to medication (down regulating and stimulating drugs).
§ It may help to clear specific pathogenic factors which may inhibit the success of your treatment, such as excess fluids obstructing your fallopian tubes.
§ It may help to ensure that your energy system is functioning well and therefore supporting your reproductive system.
§ It may help to reduce anxiety, inducing calm and relaxation so that your treatment will be more effective and conception more likely.
§ It may help to reduce any side effects of the drugs, especially the down-regulating medication.
§ It may help to increase blood flow to the uterus, thickening the endometrium and increasing the chances of implantation
§ It may help to reduce the risks of OHSS (Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome)
§ It may help reduce the risks of miscarriage (Research evidence from USA, Magarelli and Cridenda, 2005)