Journal Tag: IVF support

Getting to know your practitioner – Sonia Millett, FGHG acupuncturist

Fertility Sonia

What inspired you to become an acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist, with a special interest in fertility and pregnancy?

Fertility, pregnancy and women’s health conditions are some of the most interesting and complex to treat, for this reason it has always drawn me – there are so many interesting aspects to consider, such as hormonal and emotional factors.

I love the challenges fertility issues present, and in particular the joy of hard-fought successes such as conceiving a baby after years of trying.  I also enjoy then treating  patients up until they give birth –  there is a real sense of completion and connection with the patient.

I first experienced the benefits of Chinese Medicine when my infant son did not gain weight and was diagnosed with ‘failure to thrive’, and was very unsettled. Several pediatricians were unable to provide a reason or a solution. Chinese Medicine, however, provided some notable improvements, and I was hooked.

What do you see as the strengths that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (CM) have to offer in terms of fertility and reproductive support?

Fertility and pregnancy treatments are a major area of strength in Chinese Medicine as it fills a gap in conventional Western Medicine. This makes it a wonderful adjunct to medical treatments such as IVF.  If a pathology is not visible (eg in scans/to the eye) or does not show up in testing such as blood tests, Chinese Medicine excels. This is why Chinese Medicine can be effective with diagnoses such as ‘unexplained’ infertility, or for older patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine has a different diagnostic system and we can find a diagnosis (and therefore help treat) even when there is none in Western Medicine.

Chinese Medicine practitioners treat the individual, not the disease, and aim to strengthen underlying issues in the body.  The treatments are more patient- centred.

Also, Chinese Medicine is a holistic approach, supporting the OVERALL health and vitality of the body, as well as treating health issues directly. The principle aim of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture is to recover the equilibrium between the physical and emotional aspects of an individual, by treating the whole person. This is why we also provide lifestyle and dietary advice, and consider the emotional state of patients.

Patients often report they feel less stressed and more able to cope following acupuncture treatments, and we see this as a vital part of the treatment.

In your work you assist a lot of women on their journey to becoming pregnant, do you recommend they continue to see you after they have fallen pregnant? What does acupuncture and Chinese medicine have to offer during pregnancy?

Chinese Medicine is very useful throughout pregnancy. It offers a gentle approach to treatment without side-effects. It can help treat conditions such as nausea in early pregnancy, and any pain throughout the pregnancy. In late pregnancy, acupuncture can be used to prepare the patient for an on-time labour.

The benefits of treatment also extend to post-partum for issues such as poor milk supply and for a boost in energy when exhausted.

Your week tends to be very busy, what sort of self-care do you do to recharge outside of seeing patients?

I get lots of benefit from connecting with special friends, and possibly combining this with a walk. Also a regular yoga practice. I find that any practice that nourishes you emotionally as well as physically, has more far-reaching benefits. Whenever time permits, I also enjoy  acupuncture, kinesiology or massage treatments throughout the year.

I enjoy massage treatments primarily for stress relief, and acupuncture or kinesiology when I have a more acute condition that needs addressing such as pain.  I personally really enjoy kinesiology – it’s an eclectic mix of treatment approaches (and even incorporates some Chinese Medicine channel theory).

What are your top five tips for others to help maintain a healthy lifestyle?

  • Eat a nutritious diet with primarily fresh fruit and vegetables (no need to eat low fat foods) and get daily exercise (doesn’t need to be strenuous).
  • Make time for fun and nurture the special relationships in your life. Particularly important when going through challenging times such as when trying to conceive or with a new baby.
  • Find Gratitude – notice things in your life daily that you are grateful for
  • Get plenty of sleep, ideally within the hours of 11pm – 6.00am.
  • And of course have regular therapeutic treatments such as acupuncture, massage, naturopathy, kinesiology, to maintain health – after all, prevention is better than cure! CM is great as a preventative to help keep you in peak heath and manage stress.

Learn more about Sonia Millet on our practitioner page here: Sonia Millet, FGHG Acupuncturist

Acupuncture IVF support after egg retrieval

Acupuncture has become a common modality used to support an IVF cycle. In recent years there has been a lot of excitement and extensive literature published about the use of acupuncture to support an embryo transfer and specifically, utilising it for pre and post transfer to reduce uterine contractions and spasms, as well as stress and anxiety [1]. There has also been more investigation into using acupuncture in preparation for starting an IVF cycle. These treatments usually begin 12 weeks prior to the IVF cycle and focus on stimulating blood flow to the uterus and the ovaries, to establish a healthy menstrual cycle and ovulation – with the benefit of having a healthy cycle to improve the outcome of IVF.

What many people are not aware of is an acupuncture IVF support treatment that deserves equal attention, with just as many benefits as pre and post embryo transfer acupuncture. That treatment is acupuncture to support recovery from the Egg Retrieval procedure.

Egg Retrieval or egg ‘pick up’ is a hospital day procedure where the eggs are collected from the ovaries and takes about 20-30 minutes under a general anaesthetic. During the procedure, your fertility specialist uses ultrasound to guide a needle into each ovary where the eggs are contained in a fluid within the follicles on your ovaries. The specialist removes fluid from the follicles that look like they’ve grown enough to have an egg inside. You will be in the recovery for about 30 minutes after the surgery and it is at this time the doctor or nurse will often tell you how many eggs they managed to retrieve.

Depending on many factors, the full recovery from egg ‘pick up’ can range from being quick, easy and painless, to a slower recovery and on rare occasions can be quite serious resulting with perhaps a stay in hospital.

The more severe and rare cases are often diagnosed with Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).  Symptoms of OHSS includes rapid weight gain, severe abdominal pain, persistent nausea and vomiting, decreased urination, shortness of breath and enlarged and tight abdomen. Milder cases have more mild to moderate abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, diarrhoea and tenderness in the ovaries. If you are at risk of this, your IVF clinic will keep a close eye on you during your recovery period.

What is not so commonly talked about or written about, is the support that acupuncture can offer in recovering from an egg ‘pick up’. This is particularly important because the egg ‘pick up’ is done only part way through the IVF cycle. Your body still needs to receive and hopefully implant the embryo later in the IVF cycle.  Treating any swelling and discomfort after the egg pick up and before embryo transfer can be very beneficial.

During post egg pick up acupuncture sessions, we use acupuncture treatment to support circulation in the pelvic cavity, which is thought to bring healing cells and remove inflammatory cells in the region. The acupuncture needles are placed on the legs, arms and abdomen and many people find they feel the swelling go down instantly, after only 30 minutes with needles.

Along with using acupuncture in post egg retrieval, we always suggest some simple things like drinking plenty of water, eating lots of fibre and resting, whilst still getting some very gentle exercise like slow walking.

If you are going in for an egg retrieval and feel you might be at risk because you fit into one of the following categories:

  • have been diagnosed with PCOS,
  • have seen a large number of follicles on scans,
  • have a low body weight,
  • are under 30 years old or
  • have had previous OHSS.

We suggest organising an acupuncture treatment 1-3 days post the surgery. The good news is that if you are doing a fresh embryo transfer in that cycle, you can often combine the post egg pick up acupuncture with the pre- embryo transfer acupuncture to provide support for both procedures.

If you are seeing an acupuncturist and soon to do an egg retrieval it is worth asking them to suggest a plan for you around the time of the surgery. If you are not seeing an acupuncturist and feel that you could benefit from using acupuncture to recover from an impending egg retrieval, it is worth seeing a practitioner at least one week prior to the egg ‘pick up’ so they know your history and constitution and can guide you on the correct timing of treatments.

[1] Effect of acupuncture on symptoms of anxiety in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: a prospective randomised controlled study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20621276

 

Joanne SharkeyBy Joanne Sharkey, FGHG Acupuncturist

Joanne has been in clinical practice for more than 10 years. Her experience and knowledge make her a highly effective practitioner to support women and couples in starting a family. She individually tailors treatments, herbal, dietary & lifestyle advice for preconception care, health during pregnancy and birth preparation for a safe delivery. Joanne also has a special interest in treating PCOS holistically to regulate cycles as well as the hormonal side effects of PCOS including infertility

Meet the special in your IVF Specialist – Dr. Manuela Toledo

Fertility Dr

Our practitioners at Fertile Ground Health Group communicate regularly with many medical specialists for the shared care of patients and to ensure that the best outcomes are achieved. This collaborative approach has enabled us to get to know some fabulous specialists and we thought you might like to meet the “special” in your Specialist too!

Often these doctors work tirelessly and are fiercely committed to their practice. The subject of our first interview in this series, Dr. Manuela Toledo from Melbourne IVF is no exception!  Read on as Manuela let’s us in on her views about her work and area of speciality.

Meet the special in your Specialist – Dr. Manuela Toledo, Melbourne IVF.
What is your best advice for someone trying to conceive?
Optimize your lifestyle choices at least 3 months prior to conception. Of course this means no smoking and minimal alcohol and caffeine. Exercise moderately for 30mins 2-3 times a week and eat a diet rich in folic acid and antioxidants i.e. fresh organic fruit and vegetables. In addition a multivitamin with folic acid and good hydration.

Oh, did I say no smoking?

What do you love about your work as a fertility specialist?

There are so many aspects to being a fertility specialist and it merges psychology, medicine and surgery. I enjoy the multidisciplinary approach to fertility management and have a special interest in second opinions and patients with complex fertility problems. Never a dull moment!

Why did you choose fertility for your specialist profession from all of the medical options available to you?

I started off training as a resident in general and plastic surgery but felt myself drawn to the fascinating science of reproductive medicine. I would have also liked to be an embryologist (a scientist who works in the IVF laboratory) but enjoy patient contact too much.

What part of your work sometimes brings you to tears? 

I don’t cry easily (except maybe watching a sad movie on a long haul plane flight when I am jet lagged) but it is very emotional when a successful patient comes back with her newborn and extended family who are all very grateful. It makes one realise that the impact of infertility is far reaching.

What are the biggest challenges about being a fertility specialist that your patients don’t see?

Unfortunately Victoria is the most heavily regulated jurisdiction in the world with regard to fertility treatment and there is a lot of paperwork that goes on in the background. Victoria is the only state in Australia (and the world) that requires police checks prior to fertility treatment and I resent that my patients are forced to have these discriminatory checks when the naturally fertile population doesn’t.

According to the bureau of statistics, the average person has 10 jobs in their lifetime. What did you do before becoming a fertility specialist? Do you ever see yourself doing anything different?

I have worked in medicine and fertility for so long now that I cannot see myself doing anything else. Reproductive medicine is a very fast moving field and staying up to date is imperative. I have however also served on the Board of Melbourne IVF which has helped me understand how running the very complex management side of an IVF unit works. My main work is at Melbourne IVF but I also intermittently work as a consultant at TasIVF in Hobart and Launceston which I really enjoy. So in a way I feel that I do have several different jobs.

Do you recommend your patients see an acupuncturist or naturopath while they are doing fertility treatment? Why?

Many of my patients are already seeing a naturopath and/or acupuncturist and have already optimised their lifestyle. This is often very beneficial for their fertility treatment and they seem to cope much better both physically and psychologically, so from my point of view I am very supportive of a multidisciplinary approach.

What is your all-time best success story that you can share?

There are so many success stories but I always remember those that have had unsuccessful and sometimes quite complex treatments in Europe, the UK and USA often even with donor eggs and then finally come home to be successful here with their own egg in a natural IVF cycle – that is very special for me and confirms that sometimes less is more.

How can people contact you if they would like more information?

You can call my office directly on 03 9415 1815

 

For more information about Dr. Manuela Toledo or to enquire go to the Melbourne IVF website

Dr Manuela Toledo, MBBS. FRANZCOG, MMed. CREI qualified (Certification in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility) with a holistic approach and a special interest in complex infertility.

Manuela Toledo graduated in medicine from The University of Melbourne and started specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology in 1997.

Manuela trained at both The Mercy Hospital for Women and The Women’s Hospital in Melbourne and became a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2004. During this time Manuela also completed a Masters of Reproduction and Genetics at the University of Sydney.

Manuela spent three years as the Melbourne IVF Fellow completing specialist training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, obtaining the CREI specialisation in 2008. She joined Melbourne IVF as a consultant in 2006 and served as a member of the Melbourne IVF Board from 2006-2013. Manuela holds a VMO position at The Women’s Hospital.

Manuela is interested in all aspects of infertility and has a special interest in providing second opinions for complex infertility, fertility preservation and complementary medicines.

 

 

Who is Ashley Gordon, Acupuncturist?

Ash Acupuncture

We talk to Ashley Gordon, Acupuncturist at FGHG and discover what makes him such a fabulous, dedicated practitioner and why he has chosen to focus on reproductive health, fertility and pregnancy acupuncture.

What initially ignited your interest in studying to become a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner and acupuncturist?

Before my time as a TCM practitioner, I was a middle school Biology and Maths teacher. This was good, but I knew there was something… I was on the prowl for job satisfaction. Whilst having a treatment from my acupuncturist, she said “you seem to know a lot about it, ever thought of studying it?”… baffled at the timing of that statement, my answer was “not until now…” and the rest was history!!

How does an Eastern philosophy differ from a western philosophy in terms of fertility and reproductive support?

In my understanding, as different as they can be, they are both just as crucial as the other. Simplistically and generally, Western philosophy seems to go by numbers… if they fit, then they are good. This may not always take into consideration factors such as stress, emotions, sleep and their related symptoms in the body… this is where Eastern philosophy comes in quite strongly. Together, they can make as awesome team, but each have their own ability to stand independently. Fertility and reproductive support can be so easily affected by so many different lifestyle choices. It make sense to sort these out ASAP!

What unique challenges and rewards come from working with your patients in an independent, non-Western healthcare care setting ?

The rewards are many. In fertility and reproductive support specifically, the answer is simply sharing in the joy of people succeeding in their goal of having a baby. In general, assisting people in working towards better health and maximising all that their body and life has to offer. The body knows, we just need to point it in the right direction sometimes…

Chinese Medicine is such a broad discipline with so many different tools, could you offer some insight into how Chinese Medicine works best for you as a practitioner and which areas you particularly love treating?

Without a doubt, my passion lies in treating pregnancy with acupuncture. My fascination and intrigue with the human body is epitomised by pregnancy. Watching the body, grow, adapt and mould whilst still supporting the day-to-day life of a human, blows me away. My other favourite is pre-conception care – assisting this miracle to happen is such a joy!

 

Ash-Gordon-colourAshley Gordon, FGHG Acupuncturist

Ashley is an experienced acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist who is passionate about utilising the innate healing qualities of the body in achieving the desired outcomes. Be that in fertility, pregnancy or general health.

Ashley has a strong focus on preconception care, pregnancy and birth preparation and is motivated by the journeys and emotional and physical changes that these experiences bring. It is his privilege to a be a part of such a personal and life-changing journey.

Congratulations Tina & Gina!

Both Tina Jenkins and Gina Fox recently received their Masters of Reproductive Medicine (with Excellence). Here’s a picture of Tina at the graduation ceremony in NSW. Well done ladies!

Here’s what Tina had to say about getting her Masters degree…

“Obtaining a Masters degree has been a long process for me; 4 years of hard work and study alongside my usual consulting work at Fertile Ground and my weekly student clinic supervision for final year naturopathic students. I have always been more academically minded and furthering my knowledge in the very specialized area of fertility was my main inspiration for embarking on the journey towards my Masters. A Masters in Reproductive Medicine requires a Health Sciences degree as a prerequisite along with clinical experience and the course itself is primarily done by GP’s, obstetricians/gynaecologists, nurses and embryologists. All the subjects are medical subjects (Clinical Reproductive Endocrinology, Laboratory Techniques in the IVF lab etc). There were very few naturopaths studying with me, however I was really fortunate to have my Fertile Ground colleague Gina Fox completing it at the same time. Not only did completing my Masters allow me to continually keep up to date with the latest research in the field of fertility, it also allowed me the privilege of learning from some of the great IVF specialists currently working in Australia. All the subjects were taught by renowned IVF and fertility specialists who were all in clinical practice and who were all continually taking part in cutting edge research  in the area of infertility.

I have no doubt that my patients have benefited significantly as a result of this additional training. Not only do I have a much greater depth of knowledge in regards to the medical approach to fertility issues, but I also have a greater knowledge of the latest medical advances in this area. This has not only helped me to work more collaboratively with patient’s medical professionals and specialists but has also allowed a greater level of understanding of  my patients medical issues and their fertility medications.

On another level, it has also enhanced my teaching knowledge so that the students I supervise in student clinic benefit in turn.

Personally it has also been a significant achievement for me. Balancing looking after a young family alongside work commitments (and still trying to have some downtime!) has been an achievement in itself and one of which I am extremely proud.”

WTF is MTHFR?

By Gina Fox (FGHG naturopath) and Joanne Sharkey (FGHG acupuncturist)

We are thrilled to announce the latest in our informative podcast series WTF is MTHFR – an interview by Joanne Sharkey with Gina Fox on the ins and outs of MTHFR.

Have you heard of MTHFR? What is it? Why is everybody talking about it? Could it be affecting your chances of conceiving a healthy baby? Implicated in miscarriage, sperm defects, neural tube defects like spinabifida, and even chromosomal issues like down syndrome, MTHFR needs attention in a practice like ours with a special focus on fertility and helping people conceive healthy babies.

What if you do have it? Can it be treated? Will treatment actually help? Is there a bigger picture than this reductionist approach?

There are so many questions when it comes to MTHFR. Get all of your answers here on this fabulous and comprehensive podcast with FGHG acupuncturist Joanne Sharkey interviewing FGHG fertility naturopath Gina Fox

Listen to the podcast now

Let’s talk about sex, baby!

By Charmaine Dennis, Naturopath and Co-director

 

It can be so easy to get caught up in the dos and don’ts of trying to conceive – don’t drink alcohol, go to your GP for testing, give up the cigarettes, exercise more … that we can forget to talk about the most important thing about getting pregnant – SEX!

When you first start consciously trying to conceive, sex with your partner may be the most potent love making you have experienced. To come together to make a baby is ultimately what it is all about – a culmination of your love together resulting in the formation of another human being whose every cell is made up of your union. Amazing times!

But it seems that it can quickly turn to stressful thinking, especially as we often assume that it will happen quickly and easily for us. We tried so hard for most of our reproductive lives to not get pregnant with intercourse, so it is easy to assume that it should happen on the first attempt without contraception. Right?

Continue reading Let’s talk about sex, baby!

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.