Journal Tag: Acupuncture IVF

Is there an acupuncture treatment to support IVF?

The use of acupuncture treatment to support IVF has fast become a popular treatment. When considering the use of Acupuncture to support IVF and other ART there are a few key components of treatment to consider.

Some people undertake only the minimum pre-transfer and post-transfer appointments to support the embryo transfer.  Most embark on a more holistic program of treatment aiming to treat the whole person and underlying issues that may be affecting fertility.

At Fertile Ground Health Group, it is our preference to treat more holistically, and we would usually see patients weekly in the lead up to egg collection and transfer.  We also have an excellent system that allows us to cater to short term patients, however most current research suggests just doing embryo transfer (ET) acupuncture does not appear to benefit IVF outcomes when compared to any controls; but may improve outcomes when compared to no treatment.

What does the research tell us?

Acupuncture is associated with more live births when administered at a larger dose (9-12 visits prior to ET). At FGHG we recommend regular weekly treatments with women and couples trying to conceive and undergoing IVF.  Working weekly enables us to address underlying health issues that may be affecting fertility, as well as working across a cycle to maximise hormone balancing and cycle regulation, follicular and endometrial development, stress as well as addressing any side effects from medications.

Acupuncture is proposed to aid fertility in three ways:

  1. By inhibiting central sympathetic nerve activity to promote vasodilation and increase blood flow to ovaries and uterus.
  2. Inducing neurotransmitters, which activate hormonal activity in the pituitary gland, increasing ovulation, menstrual regularity, and overall fertility.
  3. Increase the ‘feel good hormones’ mitigating adverse stress response.
When should I start acupuncture in relation to my IVF or ART cycle?

We suggest starting acupuncture as many as three cycles prior to starting IVF or any ART, this suggestion is based on the whole systems TCM approach. The Whole systems approach has shown significantly more benefits compared with just doing protocol acupuncture for embryo transfer.

In any Acupuncture treatment, it is also important to note that the treatment is always designed in relation to what a woman needs constitutionally and specifically at the time of treatment.  Based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) your practitioner will assess your health and address any concerns presenting on the day.  For example if a patient has a headache, or pain remaining from egg collection, point selection takes this into account.

A follow up treatment one week after the transfer is also recommended in support of possible implantation.  This is also a time when many women find their stress levels and anxiety start to peak. The relaxing effects of Acupuncture as well as the chance to talk to their practitioner about how they are feeling during this waiting period is highly advantageous.  Treatment aims are similar to the post transfer treatment – settling everything down, supporting implantation and circulation to the uterus, etc.

Prior to starting any IVF cycles, Acupuncture treatment for approximately three months prior for both partners is advisable. Acupuncture is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a treatment for infertility and is used to help the couple to optimise their health and maximise their chances of success. However even without this, the research into the effects of Acupuncture on the outcomes of IVF cycles by just focusing on the pre- and post-transfer treatments is more than favourable.

I want to know more

In 2008 the British Medical Journal published a world first meta-analysis by highly respected Cochrane Review researchers and scientists.  The meta-analysis assessed the main research from around the world pertaining to acupuncture and IVF.  The results clearly showed a positive association between the use of acupuncture and increased success rates with IVF.  For more information on the Cochrane Review and the meta-analysis, see:

 Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, et al. Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2008;336 (7643):545-549.

For more studies see below

Impact of Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine on In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458185/

The relationship between perceived stress, acupuncture, and pregnancy rates among IVF patients: a pilot study.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20621276

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962314/

Acupuncture for IVF support

Research shows that acupuncture can be used to enhance IVF outcomes. Did you know that acupuncturists can help with preconception care, support around egg collection, pre- and post-transfer treatments and miscarriage prevention? Listen as Gina Fox (FGHG naturopath) interviews Joanne Sharkey (FGHG acupuncturist) about the how’s and why’s of acupuncture to support IVF.  What do you want to know? It’s all covered here!

We are so excited to share this podcast from Fertile Ground Health Group practitioners! Podcasts are such a convenient way to learn, as you can tune in anytime you are able to listen – in the car, on the train, out for a walk in the sunshine, in the bath… you don’t have to be pinned to your desk for yet another session of research on what might help your chances of conceiving.

Listen to the podcast!

We would love to hear your thoughts, as well as answer any questions you may have about the discussion between Jo and Gina.

Feel free to reply directly onto the podcast itself, or send us a message any time. We are always happy to hear from you!

Thanks for listening, and for sharing this information with anyone you know who is struggling with their fertility or embarking on IVF. There are so many benefits of acupuncture (along with scientific confirmation that chances of conceiving are increased up up to 65%!), it may be the thing that makes the difference for success with the next cycle. Given the difficulties and stress of undertaking IVF to conceive, let alone the out-of-pocket costs, why wouldn’t you do this?

Acupuncture is available Monday to Saturday at Fertile Ground Health Group, including daily sessions in our much-loved Multi-bed project.

For more information on all the ways we can support your fertility, please see our website. We will love to help you create your healthy family.

A problem shared: IVF support is essential

by Rachel Steward, Acupuncturist

After working with women undergoing fertility treatment for over fifteen years I thought I was well aware of how stressful it can be.  Every day I talk about, and treat, stress with my patients.  However, I recently came across some research which shocked me:

A group of women undergoing IVF who took part in a behavioural study reported similar psychological stress to people with cancer (1).

Let that sink in for a moment.

What would the similarities be?

  • having a problem – that may or may not respond to treatment;
  • having a problem – that other people don’t fully understand unless they have been through it themselves;
  • having a problem – that might not be easily shared with people in your life e.g. colleagues or sometimes even family; and
  • having a problem – that is always there, in the back of your mind, when you are trying to get on with everyday life – or sleep at night.

Research shows that the stress of IVF falls into three broad categories – social, financial and emotional.

Social stresses include stigmatisation, decreased self-esteem and unmet reproductive potential.  Women also report low levels of support because of a lack of understanding about what IVF entails (2).

The financial stress of fertility treatment is always there and often limits how much treatment people are able to seek – or – curtails other goals.  Unfortunately it has also been shown to reduce positive outcomes (3).

Perhaps the emotional stress is the worst though – one patient of mine described the two week wait, from her embryo transfer until her blood test, as “terrifying”.  Others talk about the lack of control and the sense of failure.  One research study found the emotional impact of IVF “more strenuous” than the physical impact (4) and in many cases, stress is enough to discontinue treatment.  In a survey of the reasons people stop IVF 35% cited emotional reasons (5).

What can be done to address this?

Acupuncture is a therapy that can give immediate relief.  Every day patients emerge from their sessions feeling noticeably better than when they came in.  Many people say that their weekly treatment is a time when they can relax and recharge – a circuit breaker to the stress cycle.   The beauty of acupuncture is that each treatment is individually tailored and a single treatment can include points to optimise the response to IVF (and other fertility) treatment, address any symptoms that may be present such as insomnia or digestive issues and, importantly, relax the nervous system.

A 2011 study conducted in Australia found that:

“Women described the experience and impact of acupuncture as positive relating to a sense of relaxation and time out, the engagement with the practitioner and an intervention that had very few negative side-effects.  Changes were also perceived after treatment with women describing a physical and psychological sense of relaxation and calmness and a changed perspective in relation to coping” (6).

But what if physical therapy isn’t enough? 

What then?  What if your partner is sick of talking about it or struggling to cope themselves?  Where do you turn?  Many patients talk about not wanting to “burden” friends and family – or they do talk about their struggles but feel time-limited doing so.

One of our directors, naturopath, Charmaine Dennis, is pioneering a support group for a small number of women to come together and share in a supported setting.  The group will meet once a week for four weeks for a two-hour period.  The total cost is $120.

The focus of the group is to provide a space for women to connect with themselves and each other – and the hope is that, in sharing stories and similar experiences, women will realise they are not alone and hopefully find some meaning in their journeys.  Being heard by other people who genuinely understand what you are going through can be very therapeutic.

Charmaine will also teach some really practical self-care strategies and relaxation practices.  Her aim is to break through the isolation and loneliness that can come with infertility and the IVF experience.

If you have been trying to conceive for over a year, either naturally or with IVF (or other fertility treatment), and need some more support you can email Charmaine to find out more or register for the group at charmaine@fertileground.com.au

You can also download and listen to the beautiful guided relaxation tracks Charmaine has produced along with our naturopath Gina Fox for people trying to conceive naturally or with IVF.  We use these tracks with headphones during acupuncture treatments and hear so much positive feedback about them.  Ideally you can listen to them every day for extra support and to continue the benefits of your acupuncture treatment at home.  You’ll find more information about these meditations here.

Support matters – and many people are missing out on this vital element of their treatment.  If a small group is not for you talk to your practitioner about what extra support could assist you.

by Rachel Steward, Acupuncturist

 

Rachel Steward brings 15 years of clinical experience to FGHG and practices Japanese Acupuncture – a very gentle, yet effective form of treatment. Rachel has studied in Japan under senior teachers of Toyohari to further her studies in this area. Also qualified in Western Herbal Medicine she is passionate about integrating Western and Eastern approaches to treatment.

Rachel has a wealth of experience in working with couples experiencing fertility problems and/or undergoing IVF, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and beyond. She also enjoys treating a wide range of more general health issues which can impact on fertility such as adrenal exhaustion, anxiety and depression, sleep disorders, structural problems, digestive weakness and immune issues – and draws from a wide treatment repertoire to do so. Rachel loves treating babies and children and finds Japanese acupuncture particularly suited to them. She has worked successfully with “older” women/couples, same- sex couples and couples utilising donor tissues.

 

 

 

References:

1.Skiadas CC, Terry K, Pari MD, Geoghegan A, Lubetsky L, Levy S, et al.  Does emotional support during the luteal phase decrease the stress of in vitro fertilisation?  Fertility and Sterility, 2011; 96 (6):1467-72.

2. Chang R, Chung PH, Rozenwaks Z. Role of acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 2002: 78(6):1149-53;

AND Lyttleton, J.  Treatment of Fertility with Chinese Medicine.  China: Churchill Livingstone; 2004.

3. Klonoff-Cohen H, Natarajan, L. The conerns during assisted reproductive technologies (CART) scale and pregnancy outcomes. Fertility and Sterility, 2004:81(4):982-8.

4. Bouwmans CAM, Linsten BAME, Al M, Verhaak CM, Eijkemans RJC, Habbema JDF, et al. Absence from work and emotional stress in women undergoing IVF or ICSI: An analysis of IVF-related absence from work in women and the contribution of general and emotional factors. Acta Obstet Gynecol. Scand. 2008;87(11):1169-75.

5. Verhaak CM, Smeenk JMJ, Evers AWM, Kremer JAM, Kraaimaar FW, Braat DDM.  Women’s emotional adjustment to IVF: a systematic review of 25 years of research.  Hum Reprod. Update January/February 2007;13(1):27-36.

6. Caroline A. Smith, PhD et al. The Effect of Acupuncture on Psychosocial Outcomes for Women Experiencing Infertility: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, Volume 17, Number 10, 2011, pp. 923–930.