How long will I have acupuncture treatments?
Typically 3-6 months, 1-2 weekly visits. However, treatment terms inevitably vary patient to patient depending on schedules.
Shall I bring my male partner also?
Sure. Even if your male partner has not had a Western diagnosis of fertility-related problems, TCM treatments (traditional Chinese medicine) contribute to his good health and will produce a more complete system of readiness for conception.
Is it ok to do IVF at the same time?
Yes it is. If you haven’t started IVF yet, however, it is recommended you begin your TCM treatment first. See discussion below.
Modern Western Diagnoses Treated with TCM:
Advanced Maternal Age
Amenorrhea
Anovulation
Elevated FSH Levels
Endometriosis
Hormonal Imbalances
Immunologic Infertility
Luteal Phase Defect
Male Factor Infertility
Ovarian cysts, Polycystic Ovaries
Recurrent Miscarriage
Tubal Blockage
Unexplained Infertility
Uterine Fibroids
Advantages to treatment by TCM:
Safe
Cost-effective
Non-invasive
Chemical free
Basal Body Temperature
In TCM theory, different energies are in abundance during each different phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Bringing a woman’s cycle back into balance is more easily achieved when the fluctuations in the cycle itself is closely monitored. You can use an app on your phone to chart and record your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) with a digital thermometer every morning (Fertility Friend is good). Fill out as much information in the chart as possible, paying particular attention to your cervical mucous and/or vaginal dryness. Treatments can vary considerably based on information derived from your BBT chart.
IVF and other Assisted Reproductive Therapies
Many couples today are employing the assisted reproductive therapies of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Intra Uterine Injections (IUI). A common and effective practice of TCM today is to have an acupuncture treatment immediately before and immediately after IVF. Studies have shown this practice to increase the number of resulting pregnancies by as much as 50% as compared to IVF treatments that did not employ TCM concurrently.
IVF and other assisted reproductive therapies are very expensive and emotionally draining. By contrast, TCM alone is a fraction of the cost and generally promotes good emotional health. Given that stress alone can be a significant roadblock to getting you pregnant, we recommend that couples try TCM for several months before even trying assisted reproductive therapies to balance hormones and your body.
If you have already begun IVF treatments, you should begin your course of TCM therapies right away. This will ensure the significant emotional and financial investment you’ve made in your IVF therapy is given the best possible landscape for success.
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Fertility
