What is the role of acupuncture at key stages of ART/IVF?
Acupuncture treatment helps at every stage of the ART treatment process.
Preparation phase (3 to 6 months before the IVF treatment cycle begins)
It takes 360 days for ovarian follicles to develop from the dormant stage to the ovulatory stage.
During the preparation stage, regular acupuncture treatments may improve the follicular development by increasing the blood flow to the ovaries, especially in the 190 days prior to ovulation/egg retrieval.
This phase is also the perfect time to discuss with your acupuncturist about crucial lifestyle changes that can greatly influence on the success rate of the IVF treatment.
Finally, acupuncture treatment can help to reduce the severity of pre-existing conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis or male factor infertility.
Pretreatment phase (up to 3 weeks before the ART/IVF treatment cycle )
This is what we call the down regulation phase. Acupuncture can help to reduce stress and relieve some of the medications’ side effects. It may also recruit more follicles for the treatment cycle.
Ovarian stimulation phase
This is the phase when women inject a high dose of FSH in order to produce more than one egg. Acupuncture may help to enhance the ovarian response to medication. It also helps to develop the endometrial lining.
Ovulation trigger and final egg maturation
This is when the woman inject the “trigger” medication which helps the follicles to grow further and the eggs within them to mature. Acupuncture helps in this phase so more mature eggs that can potentially be retrieved.
Embryo transfer
Treatments before and after the transfer may increase significantly the success rates of IVF.
Luteal phase
During this phase, acupuncture help with stress levels
Early pregnancy
Acupuncture helps to prevent miscarriage
Find out more about my complimentary therapies.
