Fertility
Acupuncture and TCM for IVF, IUI and ICSI
Many couples who are experiencing
fertility issues due to poor sperm parameters, post-surgical complications,
fallopian tube obstruction/removal, autoimmune factors and many other
cases of "unexplained infertility" have undergone IVF (in-vitro
fertilisation) or IUI (intrauterine insemination) and successfully
conceived as a result. Having acupuncture and TCM treatment to
assist IVF, IUI and ICSI can greatly increase a couple's chances of
successful conception and a viable pregnancy.
IUI is a type of ART (assisted
reproduction technology) where the male's sperm is placed in the uterus
with the help of a catheter. It ensures that more sperm are available
to be able to access the egg, thereby aiding fertilisation and thus
conception. It does require that the female has a healthy ovulation
cycle and open fallopian tubes.
IVF is another type of ART (assisted
reproduction technology) where the procedure attempts to gather the
female egg and sperm in isolation and bring them together for fertilisation
outside of the uterus, before then placing the fertilised egg, now
an embryo, into the uterus, in the hope that the embryo will attach
to the endometrium and thus conception will take place.
The Role of Acupuncture in
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
These procedures in ART do not
focus on the quality of eggs, sperm, and/or gynaecological
health and
this is most likely why 50% of IVF conceptions result in miscarriage.
In acupuncture and TCM,
gynaecological and fertility health is the foremost focus of treatment
and thus can play a vital role in supporting ART. In IVF and in some
cases of IUI, fertility drugs are used to stimulate the ovaries to
produce as many mature eggs as possible. If you are going through
some kind of ART, it is highly advisable to also have acupuncture
to initially, prepare your body for the procedure itself and then
to assist in the actual measurable procedures such as follicle stimulation,
response to drug treatment, improve egg quality, thicken the endometrium
and assist in the embryo attachment to the uterus, all to benefit
the procedure's effectiveness and furthermore to encourage and support
healthy embryo growth and development through to a smooth full-term
pregnancy.
Preparing for IVF or IUI
Ideally, acupuncture and TCM treatment
should be started at least 3 months prior to the start treatment.
For the female, by regulating the body system functions and energies,
acupuncture will help improve the function of the ovaries to produce
higher quality eggs, it also aids ovarian response to the follicle-stimulating
drug treatment, doubling the quantity of eggs produced than with drug
treatment alone. Higher quality eggs thus means healthier embryos
and furthermore a greater chance of a viable pregnancy. We also regulate
the hormones to encourage a thicker uterus lining (for more successful
attachment and embryo implantation).
Heavy side-effects of the drug
treatment including nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, irritability,
emotional sensitivity plus the increased stress can be successfully
alleviated with acupuncture and TCM. Patients who have had treatment
in good preparation time will find these effects will be much less
severe and more manageable.
For the male, preparation is just
as important to improve sperm quality and quantity. This also produces
a healthier embryo, and like thetreatment
given to the female, will help to reduce the chance of miscarriage
once conception has successfuly occurred.
In preparation for any ART treatment,
we heavily consider nutrition and dietetics and lifestyle changes,
if necessary. TCM views diet and lifestyle as highly important aspects
of health and a significant part of treatment process.
Acupuncture and TCM During
the IVF or IUI Treatment Cycle
Down-regulating (also
applicable to some IUI cases)
During the period of hormone regulation and control of ovulation,
acupuncture and TCM benefits the ovaries not by stimulation, but by
nourishing the root system of their growth and development for when
they are ready to become active once more. Treatment relaxes the mind
and spirit, and aids to calm the Liver to better manage any side-effects.
Follicle and Ovary Stimulation
(also applicable to some IUI cases)
During follicle stimulation, the female can experience unpleasant
side-effects that can be treated. Acupuncture and TCM will also help
the ovaries respond to the drug treatment, working as an assisted
action to the follicle-stimulation.
Pre- and Post-Embryo Transfer
Calming the mind, spirit and uterus is the essence at the stage
prior to embryo transfer. Once it has been transferred, focus of treatment
turns to Qi and Blood nourishment of the uterus; further uterus-relaxation
treatment avoids any mild uterine contractions that may cause bleeding
and early miscarriage.
Preventing Miscarriage
Once implantation and conception
has successfully taken place, the next focus is to nourish the female
to prevent miscarriage. 50% of IVF/IUI conceptions result in miscarriage,
we believe this is due to the chemically-focussed procedure that looks
at quantity rather than quality of both the eggs and overal fertility
health of the patients. Clearly, if IVF or IUI was necessary there
is a deficiency in the fertility health of either the male or female
or both. In any case, acupuncture and TCM treatment can significantly
promote healthy development of the baby through full-term by continuing
to nourish the foetus in these sensitive and early stages of growth
and development.
For more information about acupuncture
and TCM to prevent and also treat cases of recurrent miscarriage,
see Acupuncture
for Miscarriage and Ectopic
If you have had a successful cycle
of IVF or IUI treatment and would like to know how acupuncture and
TCM can help you during pregnancy and for post-natal care, see Acupuncture
for Pregnancy and Post-Natal
The above-mentioned procedures
are a brief introduction to how and why acupuncture is used to assist
in ARTs such as IVF, IUI and ICSI. Each patient however, is given
holistic and individual care and attention; your treatment may or
may not not include chinese herbal medicine as an adjunctive therapy
to acupuncture treatment. A thorough assessment of each case is always
given at the first consultation prior to treatment and throughout
your course of treatment.