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Acupuncture
& IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
I
often get calls from women who are in the midst of an
IVF cycle, asking "I'm doing IVF and heard that acupuncture
can increase my odds of getting pregnant, is that true?"
The short answer is, yes, it is possible for acupuncture
to improve your odds of success with IVF (read
about the 2002 German study). The long answer is
that you are a unique individual, with a unique reproductive
and gynecological history, and whether or not acupuncture
can help you is dependent on several factors including
your age, gynecological and overall health, your lifestyle,
your diet and your genetic makeup.
Typically,
I advise women to begin treatment a few weeks or months
before the first or next IVF cycle begins. I believe
this allows enough time for acupuncture, Chinese herbs
and other treatment modalities (abdominal massage, chiropractic,
etc.) to regulate the menstrual cycle, resolve lingering
gynecological disorders that may be blocking conception
and address imbalances that may be contributing to recurrent
miscarriage.
Most
women also want to know how acupuncture can help
improve their odds with IVF. While treatment is different
for each woman, it is believed that acupuncture may
be able to help improve ovarian function by increasing
blood flow to the ovaries, may help reduce stress and
anxiety by triggering the body's relaxation response
and may help reduce the negative side effects of fertility
drugs, all improving your odds of becoming pregnant.*
Recommended
Reading: Acupuncture & IVF, Improve Success by 40-60%
by Lifang Liang, OMD, PhD, LAc
*
Pregnancy is not guaranteed. Acupuncture treatment can
only improve your body's reproductive function to make
pregnancy more likely. Acupuncture may also reduce stress
and anxiety levels, making it possible for you to stick
with IVF treatment long enough for it to be successful.
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