Fertility & Infertility

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Acupuncture for Fertility

The road to conceiving a baby is not always easy.  It is often fraught with obstacles, confusion and heartache along the way.  As a holistic system that cultivates deep healing and balance from the inside out, acupuncture can help.  We work with couples along the wide spectrum of fertility enhancement, from acupuncture only to treatment with fertility medications like Clomid, to In-vitro Fertilization (IVF), Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) and Donor Embryo Transfer (DET).  At BCA, it is our mission to take the word “infertility” out of our vocabulary and focus on balanced nourishment of our bodies.  When we focus on nourishing ourselves, we find that a pregnancy often happens as a wonderful “side effect” creating balance within the natural rhythms of life.

Acupuncture Can Improve:

  • Egg quality
  • Proper Hormone Signaling
  • Success of Implantation
  • Uterine Blood Flow
  • Blood Quality
  • Quality/thickness of uterine lining

Acupuncture Can Regulate:

  • Menstrual Cycles
  • Hormone Levels (FSH, LH, AMH, Thyroid hormones, Cortisol)
Image of a flower that symbolises fertility/infertility

Acupuncture Can Treat the Following Fertility Issues:

  • Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
  • Luteal Phase Defect
  • Unexplained Infertility
  • Irregular Cycles, including amenorrhea, short or long cycles
  • Low Ovarian Reserve
  • Advanced Maternal Age
  • Disorders of Egg Quality and/or Uterine Lining
  • Hormonal Imbalances (LH, low FSH, Prolactin, Low AMH)
  • Obstructions, including blocked tubes, ovarian cysts, fibroids, scar tissue
  • Ovulatory disorders, including anovulation
  • Male Factor Infertility, including low sperm count, motility, morphology
  • Endometriosis
  • Other Factors that Contribute to Infertility:
    • Blood Sugar Imbalances
    • Metabolic Syndrome
    • Thyroid Disorders
    • Immune or Autoimmune Disorders
    • Insomnia
    • Depression, Anxiety
    • Stress

Acupuncture Can Complement Western Medical Treatments Such As:

  • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
  • In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)
  • Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
  • Donor Embryo Transfer (DET)

Below are Links to Studies on Fertility and Acupuncture

What to Expect:

Fertility treatments with acupuncture and herbs are highly individualized. You may have received one diagnosis from your MD, but in Chinese Medicine, there are more than one diagnostic patterns for bleeding, pain or hormone imbalance. Once we find that root cause, we begin treatment based on where you are in your menstrual cycle. The treatment will vary based on where you are in the month and will be very specific each week. Treatments will always address sleep and emotional wellbeing. You should expect to come once a week for at least 3-6 months to receive the full benefit that acupuncture offers. This is because it takes about 4-5 months to change the quality of eggs, as well as hormone levels. However, you should see changes along the way in your menstrual cycle, mood, energy level, and quality of sleep. If this is not practical for your schedule or budget, we can adjust your rate on our sliding scale and work with you to build a treatment plan that will help you meet your goals and be practical for the realities of your life.

If you are undergoing ARTs such as In-vitro fertilization (IVF) or Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET), we will tailor your treatment plan to coincide with your schedule from your MD. It increases the effectiveness of IVF to receive acupuncture directly before and after your procedure. I have working relationships with doctors at CCRM and Conceptions in this area, so we can create the proper timing for your treatments based on where you are in your calendar in order to further increase your chances of success.