If you are considering IVF, or are currently undergoing IVF treatment, you are likely one of many couples who have experienced difficulty in conceiving for a period of 12 months or more. Enter the light at the end of the tunnel, did you know Acupuncture is an incredibly powerful treatment when combined with IVF? In fact, Acupuncture has been demonstrated to be an effective complementary treatment used to increase the outcomes associated with IVF.
By no means are we saying it’s an easy journey. We are experienced and empathise that by this point, the couples we see are often stressed (financially and emotionally) and exhausted from trying to do everything possible to naturally conceive.
While Acupuncture boasts a rich history spanning over 2,000 years, its combination with modern, IVF treatments is a groundbreaking fusion of old and new, showcasing the enduring value of traditional healing in conjunction with cutting edge scientific advancements.
It’s not all anecdotal evidence either, in 2019, a study, encompassing over 2,000 couples revealed that integrating Acupuncture with IVF treatments made the process 42% more effective for couples who had previously encountered IVF failures. For first-time IVF candidates, the success rate was boosted by 30% with Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is considered a safe and effective treatment for IVF as well as other reproductive treatments, including medications and surgical procedures. Our experienced team is equipped in personalising what we call Preconception Care Plans for our fertility couples and will take the time to educate and support you on this journey to achieving your dream of a baby.
How can Acupuncture assist with IVF?
Acupuncture primarily helps improve IVF outcomes by simply improving a person’s natural ability to conceive. In our Acupuncture for Fertility treatment page, we explain the role of Acupuncture for fertility is to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs as well as regulate crucial reproductive hormones in both men and women. The outcome of achieving this in women is the ability to improve egg quality and embryo implantation. For men, this improves their sperm quantity but also quality. Another important role of Acupuncture in both partners is decreasing stress and anxiety if present, as it’s well known these can have detrimental effects on fertility.
Apart from Acupuncture’s ability to promote natural fertility, we love using this treatment because we know it’s also effective in addressing the different side effects experienced by IVF patients. Some of which may include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Exhaustion
- Lessening uterine contractions following embryo implantation
When it comes to the facts studies reveal that people who received consistent Acupuncture treatments in conjunction with IVF treatments, as opposed to those who had only 1-2 sessions, were twice as likely to conceive!
When Should I Start Acupuncture for IVF Treatment?
When it comes to Acupuncture for IVF in order to be able to achieve the best possible outcome, regular Acupuncture treatments are the most important factor. Something we educate our patients about is that the timeline to positively influence and make changes to the reproductive system is at least 3 months. This is because ovarian follicles, eggs and sperm take that long to mature and therefore to adapt to any changes made to the body which may positively influence IVF outcomes.
It’s for this reason we emphasise to patients the need for proactivity and consistency in their preconception care plans. However, if you are already partway through this procedure, this does not mean we can’t help. This is where the saying “It’s better to do something than nothing” really rings true. What we shared isn’t necessarily common knowledge, so it’s also common that a lot of the patients we see are on the brink of starting IVF or have already gone through 1 or more IVF cycles. Acupuncture and natural therapies as treatment types for increasing conception outcomes are highly effective and can support couples in any stage of their fertility journey.
Our most likely treatment recommendation to anyone seeing us for a preconception care plan is Acupuncture treatment twice weekly, if not weekly for 3 months before commencing IVF. If your personal circumstances are different to this, like we said don’t fear, your practitioner will personalise your treatment frequency and may include a recommendation of supplements and lifestyle advice to give you the best possible chance.
A Look Into Our Preconception Care Plan
It’s highly beneficial for the initial appointment, that both partners attend. This gives our practitioner the opportunity to discuss with you any findings apart of your journey so far as well as ascertain a comprehensive medical history to be able to fully personalise our approach to your care.
It’s important as a part of the consultation process we can understand things such as:
- Your lifestyle including diet, exercise, alcohol and cigarette use
- Previous pregnancies, if any
- Family reproductive history
The information our team collates during your initial appointment is completely private and confidential. We appreciate that the type of information shared during these consultations is often very personal and at times can be emotional. Please rest assured our team is here to listen and support you through this process.
A large part of the consultation and care plan process is educating our patients. As a part of this education, we will address all of the key variables revealed by research that in fact decrease IVF success rates, including:
- Dietary guidelines
- Ineffective Supplements or Supplement Misuse
- Weight and Exercise
- Mental Health triggers
- Alcohol and cigarette use
Our primary focus is to provide you with simple tactics that have the greatest positive impact on your IVF outcomes. By assisting our patients in taking the right steps at the right time, we often help them achieve pregnancy sooner rather than later and for those undergoing IVF, this may often lead to saving thousands of dollars.
Sharing Facts on Acupuncture for IVF
Acupuncture for IVF is a fast-growing area of research and constantly evolving. Thanks to continual advances in technology and the studies released as a result, we are able to share results with our patients that are based on real science-based evidence. In saying this, there is still a lot of opportunity to increase the research of natural therapies combined with western medicine.
See below some of the studies we know that firmly demonstrate that Acupuncture increases the likelihood of embryo implantation and pregnancy.
For instance, a German study revealed that women who received Acupuncture before and after IVF transfer had a pregnancy rate of 42.5%, compared to 26.3% for women who did not receive Acupuncture.
Another study indicated that women who underwent Acupuncture before and after IVF had a greater probability of becoming pregnant and giving birth to a healthy child.
When reviewing scientific research on the topic of Acupuncture & IVF, as I said, there will always be a need for further studies, although we can now safely say that Acupuncture does play a role in improving outcomes. Summaries of scientific studies like this one and this one which involved over 2000 couples have shown Acupuncture and IVF treatment together to be 42% more effective for couples that have previously tried and failed with IVF than for those that are trying IVF for the first time who only increased their live birth rate by 30%.
The Benefits of Acupuncture for IVF: A Quick Overview
Acupuncture, when combined with IVF, offers a range of benefits that enhance fertility outcomes. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect:
Improved Blood Flow: Acupuncture increases circulation to the reproductive organs, ensuring optimal nourishment and function.
Hormonal Regulation: By balancing crucial reproductive hormones, Acupuncture aids in improving egg quality in women and sperm count and quality in men.
Stress Reduction: The process alleviates stress and anxiety, which are shown to hinder fertility.
Mitigated IVF Side Effects: Acupuncture can alleviate common side effects of IVF treatments, such as headaches, nausea, and post-implantation uterine contractions.
Enhanced Implantation: Studies suggest that consistent Acupuncture sessions can increase the chances of embryo implantation.
Natural Complement: It seamlessly complements other fertility treatments and interventions, offering a holistic approach to reproductive health.
In summary, Acupuncture doesn’t just increase your chances of conceiving through IVF; it also ensures you are mentally and physically in the best possible state throughout the journey.
Bring Your Dreams Of a Family To Life
Acupuncture is a modern, scientifically-based fertility treatment that can increase the likelihood of implantation and pregnancy in conjunction with IVF. To summarise, it has been demonstrated that Acupuncture increases blood flow to the reproductive organs, regulates hormones, reduces stress and anxiety, and lessens the negative effects of IVF treatment.
In our care, you will undertake a thorough evaluation of all main factors known to affect IVF outcomes, our team will then develop a personalised plan to help you achieve the best outcome possible. Remember, consistent courses of treatment are what is recommended to achieve this but we are passionate and able to help you at any stage of the journey.
We welcome you to reach out to us if we can help answer any questions. Please call us on (02) 4709 6727 or go ahead and book an appointment online to get the process started. Our team is here to help.
