Fertility acupuncture has become widely recognised on its own or in conjunction with western reproductive medicine, such as IVF and to help during pregnancy.   Acupuncture may improve blood flow to reproductive organs and aid healthy hormonal function, as well as assisting women undergoing IVF with stress reduction and supportive care during what can be an incredibly anxious time. When a woman is pregnant, acupuncture may assist her in a myriad of ways including relief from morning sickness and pelvic and back pain. Chinese medicine also has techniques for babies presenting as breach and in the lead up to birth.

Does it actually work? What’s the evidence?

Chinese Medicine has a long history of assisting women with reproductive health problems and offers couples wishing to conceive a child holistic and individualised treatment.  Treatment with traditional Chinese medicine has been shown to have a beneficial effect on couples who have difficulty conceiving, either on its own or in combination with IVF or other forms of assisted reproduction. Extensive studies show that:

• Chinese herbal medicine restores ovarian function effectively and promptly. It offers a valuable option for treating infertility in patients with premature ovarian failure and/or raised FSH and LH levels, as well as treating patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Many studies demonstrate that the correct application of herbs can restore a regular cycle with a good biphasic basal body temperature and an efficient luteal phase.
• Acupuncture can be equally effective as clomiphene citrate in the treatment of ovulatory dysfunction without causing any side effects. Studies suggest that acupuncture adjusts FSH and LH and normalize oestrogen and progesterone levels, thus regulating ovulation.

How does it work?

If you just want an initial consultation, I will need 30 mins during which time I take your full history and get a sense of the state of your general health. The cost of the follow-up treatment then depends on whether you just want to take herbs or have acupuncture or massage or all of this. More information about costs are here: Booking, Locations and Fees – Morgane Therapies

Alternatively, you can book a 60 mins initial acupuncture session so that we can do the consultation and you can have an acupuncture treatment as well.

What happens after the first session?

As part of a fertility treatment, I will usually ask female patients to monitor their ovulation by recording their basal body temperature (BBT). The BBT chart helps me to understand the activity of the hormones and guide the selection of acupuncture points and herbs. Monitoring the BBT chart can also be helpful to patients as they can see progress for themselves.

How many sessions should I have?

You do need to be a little patient. Normally a minimum of three cycles (that about three months if your cycle is 28 days)  can be expected in the case of unexplained infertility, but it can sometimes last a year. Acupuncture may need to be given every weeks, or 2 weeks or once per month, depending on the severity of the disharmony of Qi and Blood. However, many women get pregnant quite quickly when having acupuncture as the relaxation produced by the treatment enhances fertility.

Can I just have acupuncture or do I also need to take herbs?

I often recommend taking a course of Chinese herbs alongside acupuncture. The herbs I prescribe are in powder form and very easy to take. Obviously, it is entirely up to the patient whether they want to commit to this as well, but from my experience, Chinese herbs are hugely effective.

Can I contact you to discuss?

Of course. If you’re not sure whether you want to explore this route for fertility, you can always ring me and we can discuss over the phone.   To find out me about contacting me, please click here:  Booking, Locations and Fees – Morgane Therapies