Acupuncture for IVF Treatment & Fertility

Acupuncture to support you through IVF treatment and to help to promote natural conception.

Whatever your situation, whether trying to conceive naturally or going through the process of IVF to get pregnant, acupuncture for IVF treatment and fertility aims to boost reproductive health and improve your chances of conceiving.

How does acupuncture for IVF and fertility help you become pregnant?

Acupuncture has been found to:

• reduce the impact of stress on fertility hormones
• increase blood flow to the ovaries
• improve the condition of the endometrial lining of the womb

Acupuncture can regulate fertility hormones – stress and other factors can disrupt the function of the hypothalamic pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA), causing hormonal imbalances that can negatively impact fertility.

Acupuncture increases blood flow to the ovaries, enhancing the environment in which ovarian follicles develop. It also promotes blood flow to the uterus, improving the quality of the endometrial lining and increasing the chances of embryo implantation.

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is one of the most common causes of female infertility. By reducing sympathetic nerve activity and balancing hormone levels, acupuncture has been shown to reduce the number of ovarian cysts, stimulate ovulation, enhance blastocyst implantation and regulate the menstrual cycle.

Helen is more than an acupuncturist. Visiting her is like having treatment and therapy rolled into one. She was a huge support during my lengthy and challenging fertility journey.”
Danielle (TV producer)

Acupuncture in support of IVF

IVF is an expensive and complex process that usually involves various pharmaceuticals and frequent scans. Having acupuncture provides a chance to experience a more personal treatment, but still focused on fertility.

Acupuncture helps female fertility by enhancing the flow of blood and nutrients to the ovaries and the uterus. It also regulates reproductive hormones, reducing the negative impact of stress hormones.

Research indicates that acupuncture in support of IVF boosts fertility. A study recently carried out with patients at the Homerton hospital found that acupuncture can double the success rates of IVF.

This Telegraph article explains the study in more detail

We follow a holistic approach to fertility treatment. Firstly we take a detailed case history, making note of any western diagnoses and medication as well as looking at your health patterns from a Chinese medical perspective. We adapt our treatments to suit the particular stage of your menstrual cycle or IVF programme. All our therapists have extensive knowledge of western and Chinese approaches to fertility treatment. We take care to explain to you how we are working, and any changes to look out for.

When is it best to start acupuncture for IVF?

We advise that you start acupuncture before commencing IVF, but if you have already started, there are specific stages during an IVF cycle at which acupuncture can be most useful:

• during the follicular stimulation phase
• after egg collection
• preparing for frozen embryo transfer
• on the day before/of embryo transfer
• during the week before the pregnancy test

Your acupuncture will vary according to which IVF protocol you are following: long or short protocols, frozen embryo cycles or natural cycle. We will also adapt our treatments according to your response to the fertility medication. Many of the drugs used in IVF are hormones, and therefore women react to them differently. Acupuncture can help to safely moderate the intensity of certain side effects.

I am convinced that I would not have become a mum if I had not had acupuncture!”
Aukje (Mother)

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Useful information and advice on IVF and Fertility

Here are some great articles and videos that you may find helpful.