Acupuncture may improve pregnancy success rates with IVF and IUI.

We work closely to follow and support the plan put together by you and your reproductive specialist.

Acupuncture may help to assist IVF / IUI and a medicated cycle by:

  • increasing implantation rates after IUI and with an IVF embryo transfer
  • increasing rate of pregnancy
  • improving egg quality & increasing ovarian responsiveness
  • nourishing the uterine lining and normalizing reproductive hormones
  • improving blood flow to the ovaries & uterus
  • Pregnancy Consolidation: Assists in the consolidation of pregnancy.
  • improving sperm count, morphology, & motility – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9624472/#s9
  • decrease side effects of medication (such as fatigue, hotflashes, abdominal cramping and mood swings)
  • reduce stress and anxiety to improve fertility

It is ideal for a woman to begin treatment 3 months prior to the time she wants to conceive. The 3 months enables us to prepare the body for conception. It gives us enough time to normalize a cycle if there are irregularities, improve the uterine lining by building up blood and also increases the chances of a healthy baby and pregnancy. We address any issues with your period during this time, as well as working on improving your egg quality. This is achieved in combination with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, diet and lifestyle changes and supplements. We recommend taking a prenatal vitamin supplement 4 months prior to beginning your IVF/ IUI cycle.

  • Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are used to enable us to support the improvement of the quality of the sperm – with a focus on sperm morphology, motility and overall volume and progressive motility (this means the sperm need to be moving forward and not in circles). It takes 4 months for sperm to develop in the testes, so we do recommend for males, beginning about 6 months prior to an IUI or IVF cycle, as this gives us at least 1 cycle of growth to monitor how sperm is improving. We also recommend diet and lifestyle changes based on your individual needs and incorporate supplements as well. We will also provide you with a healthy sperm smoothie, which is packed full of antioxidants, selenium, zinc and omega fatty acids, which all assist with sperm production.

A study held in 2018 demonstrated that acupuncture can be used in adjunct with other treatment – such as IVF and IUI and the study found that when used alongside other treatments acupuncture does improve male infertility. – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9624472/#s9

Summary of the Study:

The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: A literature review

The merits of acupuncture in treating male infertility mainly include the following:

(1) the advantages of acupuncture for male infertility include no side effects, few adverse effects, and low cost;

(2) the combination of acupuncture and conventional therapy can improve the efficacy of male infertility; and

(3) from the perspective of TCM, acupuncture can regulate the body as a whole, thereby treating male infertility.

Currently, there are still some limitations in the existing studies, such as the lack of rigorous methodology and small sample size.

Improving Sperm Quality

Normal sperm count values are currently given as:

  • greater than 20 million sperm per ml
  • greater than 50% of sperm moving vigorously (motility)
  • greater than 14 % with no deformities (morphology).

A population study looking at men’s fertility found that those men that succeeded in fathering a child had:

  • greater than 48 million sperm per ml
  • a motility of more than 63%
  • a normal morphology of 12%

***(New England Journal of Medicine 345(19):1388-1393).

This study indicates the importance of men achieving the highest sperm count and motility possible.

To assist with improving sperm health – we recommend a combination of Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, diet and lifestyle support & supplements to support to improve with a man’s overall health, while also addressing other co-factors such as stress.

We highly recommend that all males who are looking at undergoing IVF / IUI book in for a consultation with the Men’s Health clinic for a full check up.

Some health practitioners may recommend acupuncture as an adjunct treatment that may assist with IVF treatment. There is continuing research about how acupuncture can assist with the effectiveness of IVF treatment. You should consult your treatment practitioner(s) about how acupuncture may be able to help you.

References:

(New England Journal of Medicine 345(19):1388-1393).

The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: A literature review

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9624472/#s9

Often when a woman is undergoing ART she comes in the month that the procedure is beginning. At this point treatments are 1-3 times per week for the duration of the cycle. No Chinese herbs are prescribed. Diet and lifestyle changes can be made and side effects from the medication mitigated. After the procedure the focus changes to supporting implantation and preventing miscarriage.

It is ideal for a woman to begin treatment 3 months prior to the time she wants to conceive. The 3 months enables us to prepare the body for conception. For males and for male sperm donors, our treatment plan is very similar. We always ask you to get your Sperm tested alongside hormones and other blood tests to have a look at the health and the quality of the sperm.

Treatment for males or the male sperm donor is once a week for a at least 3 months prior to an IUI / IVF cycle, especially if there have been issues with sperm quality previously.

Many health practitioners may recommend acupuncture as an adjunct treatment that may assist with IVF treatment. There is continuing research about how acupuncture can assist with the effectiveness of IVF treatment. You should consult your treating practitioner/s about how acupuncture may be able to help you.

Disclaimer: Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary from patient to patient based on the circumstances of the patient’s specific situation. A result is not promised and/or guaranteed from the act of receiving treatment.

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