Why acupuncture for fertility?

Acupuncture delivered by a specialist fertility acupuncturist can play a significant role in supporting and improving your fertility, both natural and assisted. Read the lovely review that Rachel left for me after the birth of her daughter.

Western medicine has finally begun to acknowledge the potential of acupuncture in enhancing assisted reproductive therapies (ART) like IVF, IUI, ICSI and egg donor cycles because there have been so many high quality studies conducted showing the impact of acupuncture on fertility. Many UK fertility clinics now recommend acupuncture to their clients to optimise their ART outcomes and say they can see the difference in those who have spent time preparing with a specialist.

A meta-analysis and systematic review published in July 2023 looking at IVF outcomes in almost 5000 women has demonstrated the potential positive influence of acupuncture on pregnancy rates for couples undergoing IVF or ICSI treatments. It found that the live birth rate in the acupuncture groups was 38% compared to 28.7% in the control groups.

Acupuncture for fertility may be a good choice for you if:

• You're about to start or you’re already doing IVF and want to be as healthy as possible to increase your chances.

• You're looking for a relaxing and supportive place to help you through IVF treatment.

• You've been trying for a while to have a baby without success and are wondering why.

• You're feeling stressed about getting pregnant and want to know what else you can do.

• You're recovering from a miscarriage and want help feeling less anxious about getting pregnant again.

• You already have a child but you’re having trouble getting pregnant again and are trying to work out what’s going on.

• You’ve been told that you have conditions like PCOS, low AMH, or endometriosis and you want to understand how they’re affecting your fertility and what you can do to improve your chances.

• You would like to have further testing that the NHS doesn’t offer but you’re not sure where to start.

how will acupuncture and working with a fertilty specialist help me conceive?

• Stress reduction: acupuncture affects your nervous system positively - having reduced stress hormones plus increased serotonin and ‘happy hormones’ supports your body’s ability to ovulate, and sustain a pregnancy. Stress affects progesterone levels.

• Improved blood flow: by increasing the blood flow to your uterus and ovaries, regular acupuncture supports the best follicular development, egg quality, and quantity.

• Enhanced endometrial lining: acupuncture has been shown in studies to improve endometrial lining thickness and receptivity, increasing the chances of you having a successful embryo implantation.

• Hormonal balance: regular acupuncture can help regulate your menstrual hormones

• Sperm improvement: there is evidence that acupuncture may also improve sperm morphology and motility, further enhancing your chances of a successful pregnancy. The healthier the sperm, the less work the egg has to do in terms of repairing DNA after fertilisation.

When Should I Start acupuncture to improve my fertility?

The quality of your eggs, sperm, and embryos plays a crucial role in achieving a successful pregnancy.

Preparation is everything and by identifying and working on your underlying problems, maximising micronutrients, changing your lifestyle habits and having regular acupuncture we can have a huge impact on your fertility.

Everyone is different but it’s possible that you may not need to have IVF when we’ve looked at and investigated all the possible reasons why you may not be conceiving or staying pregnant - the very best part of my job is working with women who become pregnant naturally before their IVF starts.

By timing your acupuncture treatments to begin 3-6 months before undergoing IVF, IUI, ICSI, or egg donation, we can have a strong influence on your reproductive health. During your preparation treatments, we focus on enhancing your endometrial health, optimising your egg quality, improving sperm quality, and supporting the resulting embryo's ability to implant. I will advise you on nutrition and evidence-based supplementation to achieve this.

The development of a follicle containing an egg takes over 12 months, with the last 3 months being particularly critical. During this period, microscopic blood vessels grow within each ovarian follicle, supplying essential hormones and nutrients for its healthy development.

My single piece of advice to you if you’re TTC or planning to start soon, is to prepare, prepare, prepare!

I can refer both you and your partner for hormone testing, sperm and vaginal microbiome testing to check for silent infection, sperm DNA fragmentation testing and full sperm analysis if this needs to be repeated.

It’s never too early to start investigating and it reaps huge rewards.

So tell me more about preparing…

During your preparation phase the primary objective of your acupuncture treatment is to improve blood circulation to your uterus and ovaries. We also work to regulate your menstrual cycle - our aim is for you to have regular ovulation with healthy eggs and a good length luteal phase, while we address any underlying problems. I will review any testing you’ve had and I may refer you for further tests if I think something has been missed.

These acupuncture sessions offer more than just physical support. They provide an opportunity for us to improve your nutrition, explore how evidence-based supplements can support you, and empower you to navigate your treatment cycle.

I’m having IVF - How can you support me during downregulation?

When it comes to down-regulation (long protocol) or ‘before the period’ (short protocol), acupuncture can play an important role in enhancing your fertility treatment.

In the week before a menstrual bleed we’re focused on achieving complete shedding of your womb lining. By fully clearing the old endometrium, your body then creates the best environment for the development of a fresh, healthy, ‘fluffy’ lining with improved blood flow and uptake of hormones.

Acupuncture is brilliant at minimising any side effects associated with down regulation, such as headaches or hot flushes.

If your clinic have put you on the short protocol without down-regulation medication, the underlying principle remains the same, which is to achieve effective shedding of the old lining, creating space for the healthiest possible new lining.

Acupuncture during the Stimulation Phase: optimising your body’s response to the medication

The stimulation phase of fertility treatment is where your medications are targeting the ovaries, promoting your production of multiple mature follicles rather than just one which you would produce in a natural cycle.

Acupuncture plays a valuable role during this phase by enhancing your response to the stimulation medication through improved ovarian and uterine blood flow.

It is possible to potentially increase the number of eggs available for collection and help to thicken your endometrial lining. Typically, I see patients for acupuncture twice throughout this phase and sessions are timed to maximise their effectiveness.

Acupuncture during recovery from egg collection and on your Embryo Transfer Day

During the egg retrieval recovery phase, you may not need additional treatment. However, if you have complications such as pain after egg collection or symptoms of mild to moderate OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome) you may benefit from additional acupuncture sessions during this time.

Severe OHSS requires immediate medical attention, so contacting your IVF clinic's emergency number or going to A&E is essential if you have concerns.

On the day of embryo transfer, acupuncture has been shown to have positive effects on pregnancy rates. While research often focuses on protocols delivered 25 minutes before and after the transfer, in my experience this can be stressful for you to attend, and in fact treating later the same day or within 24 hours of embryo transfer is equally effective.

The aim of acupuncture here is to enhance blood flow to the womb lining, support hormonal balance and increase receptivity so the embryo can successfully implant. Additionally, acupuncture can help reduce uterine contractions or spasms that may happen after your transfer procedure. It will also help to bring down your anxiety levels.

If you are using an egg donor either in Hertfordshire or abroad I can tailor your treatment plan to optimise your IVF protocol by focusing on thickening your lining, working on keeping pelvic fluid draining well and creating the best intra-uterine environment for successful implantation.

This works best alongside acupuncture for male partners to optimise the vitality and health of their sperm before sample day, although I prefer to see male partners well in advance of this. Please note that we never needle anywhere near the genitals - I’ve been asked this many times - you can rest assured the treatment is gentle but powerful.

Acupuncture during your Two-Week Wait and Pregnancy Support: Your Journey Matters to Me

I understand that the two-week wait following your embryo transfer can be an incredibly stressful time for you both. Even the calmest and strongest person can find it hard to get themselves in a good place mentally. I am here to provide a supportive space where you can relax, switch off or talk if you need to.

My acupuncture treatments during your embryo’s implantation phase are designed to relax your uterus to avoid cramping. We also work to regulate your immune system, reduce your stress levels, and improve local blood circulation.

IVF pregnancies carry a slightly higher risk throughout the first trimester so I encourage all my patients to continue acupuncture sessions on a weekly basis. These sessions help alleviate common symptoms experienced during early pregnancy, such as nausea, fatigue, and morning sickness.

If you are considered to have a low-risk pregnancy, I will typically discharge you at 12 weeks’ gestation. If you are higher risk because of your history I recommend continuing until 20 weeks and returning for pre-birth sessions at 34 weeks.

If you’re trying to start or expand your family and would like support from a specialist fertility acupuncturist in Hertfordshire, I would love to hear from you.

You can take the first step to improving your chances of having a baby by booking a FREE 15-minute online call with me:

• We will get really clear on what you want to achieve in your fertility journey

• Talk through how we will make a treatment plan tailored to you

• Identify the right approach to treatment for your unique situation

• You will leave with a clear recommendation on how I can support you to achieve a healthy, happy pregnancy

• Your sessions with me are always one-to-one. I am fully focused on you and never see two people at once.

• I currently work closely with Fertility Solutions (see C4 Save Our Sperm documentary with male fertility consultant Mr Jonathan Ramsay), Clinical Diagnostics on Harley Street and Invivo Healthcare to ensure you have access to the very best fertility experts in the UK.

Please note that Fertility Package places are limited to ensure that you always receive the best care and support.