Traditional Chinese Medicine: Fertility and IVF Support

Are you trying or thinking about having a baby?

TCM Practice we are dedicated to help individuals with fertility issues and aim to nurture your sense of wellbeing throughout your fertility journey, support your choices and wishes, and enhance your capacity to conceive.

Acupuncture is one of the most popular complementary therapies used alongside IVF treatment today. A 2019 meta-analysis on 27 different studies that looked at the effect of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes showed that acupuncture did have a positive influence.

Get in touch to discuss how can we help you on your journey:

Acupuncture – a holistic approach to fertility

Traditional Chinese medicine addresses the whole person and aims to treat complex interrelations between body, mind and spirit.

A physical perspective

From a physical perspective, putting needles in the body in a specific area, such as over reproductive organs, can promote blood flow to that region and stimulate the organs. There have been several research studies that have demonstrated that acupuncture improves the thickness of the endometrial lining and increases the chances of embryo implantation (Stener-Victorin 1996, Huang 2008 ).

Acupuncture can also help to manage gynecological issues that can affect your fertility.

• Ovulation issues
• Menstrual cycle irregularities
• PCOS
• Endometriosis
• Assisted conception support (IVF, ICSI, IUI)
• Unexplained infertility
• Recurrent miscarriages
• Failed IVFs
• Male fertility

Get in touch if you are suffering from any of above

A biomedical perspective

Stress is one of biggest factors in subfertility and in infertility in both males and females. Ongoing stress disrupts hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes thus affecting the natural release of hormones. Higher levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, alpha-amylase and glucocorticoids impair follicle health, reduce secretion of oestrogen and thins endometrium. They also interfere with the release LH hormone required for to mature and release the egg and the secretion of progesterone that can affect implantation.

Acupuncture works on the nervous system, influencing the production of hormones and neurotransmitters. This can activate the body’s own internal regulating system, stimulating its natural healing abilities and promoting physical and emotional wellbeing. Acupuncture is relaxing and it can help you deal with stress, which in turn helps with your fertility.

Get in touch if you need help with stress management or book a relaxing treatment now.

A psycho-emotional perspective

We know there is a link between one’s state of mind, emotions and gynecological state. Emotions are hard to quantify but from the perspective of TCM when it comes to fertility this interlinking is highlighted by the very nature of what we in TCM call the Uterus Vessel.

In TCM Uterus is closely connected to energetics of Heart. In TCM, Heart not only hosts the Shen (or spirit). Heart Qi (or energy) is crucial for the release of the egg at ovulation. It is also important for the discharge of menstrual blood during periods. Just like Heart, Uterus pulsates. It has its own beat (measured as UPI by ultrasound). This beat affects uterine receptivity during IVF. Thus, we can say Uterus is a second heart.  

The link between Heart and Uterus highlights the role of emotions in fertility process. The fertility journey or infertility can be a lonely experience and too many people struggle with all sorts of emotions. Some feel anger and frustration because they cannot conceive. Others experience fear from never being able to fall pregnant. Some feel sadness, grief, or disappointment from failed attempts. All emotions affect Shen in the heart.

Anecdotally, there are many stories of women who conceive on holidays when they are happy and relaxed. Medically, it would seem impossible as they are outside their ‘fertile window’ or have tried before and failed. This highlights the need for emotional relaxation and what in Tao we call open heart energy.

Acupuncture might not make you fall in love. It can help with balancing emotions. This, in turn, will increase the energy of your heart.

Who is fertility acupuncture for?

Many people choose acupuncture because they would like to avoid assisted conception. Some have heard it is a beneficial support treatment during assisted conception. Others have tried everything else and want to explore all the options that may help them conceive. You may be considering acupuncture for different reasons. It can be a great way to help bring you into better balance. This is true wherever you may be in your fertility journey.

Acupuncture can be beneficial for both women and man during the fertility process. It helps you relax and improves your general wellbeing. Both man and women should want to spend time optimising their health during this process.

For men, acupuncture may be considered for several reasons. It can help if there is a problem with sperm count. It can also assist with motility and morphology issues. Additionally, acupuncture may be helpful during ICSI treatment.

For women, acupuncture can help with following areas:

• Regulating the menstrual cycle
• Helping to counteract stress levels
• Improving blood circulation to the pelvic organs, including the ovaries and uterus
• Support ovulation dysfunction

When is the good time for fertility acupuncture?

The ideal time to begin acupuncture is three months before conception or IUI or an IVF cycle. This will ensure that your eggs and sperm are at the best quality they can be, as both egg and sperm take around 90 days to mature. Do not worry though if you have missed the 90 day window. There is good evidence showing that acupuncture later in the process will still improve your chances.

When is acupuncture recommended during IVF

Acupuncture may help increase IVF success rates by 65%

The Guardian, February 2008

It is recommended to have acupuncture sessions at various key times during the IVF process:

• In the lead up to your cycle (see above)
• Before and after embryo transfer
• The Two-Week wait

During the two-week wait, which is often an anxious time whilst you await your pregnancy result. We offer a very gentle acupuncture treatment for stress and relaxation between days 7 and 10.

Each patient is individual. We will work with you to create a highly individualised plan to benefit your unique situation and fertility journey.

Support through pregnancy

Acupuncture is also safe during pregnancy and we can offer support through your pregnancy. During the first trimester, acupuncture can help with establishing the foundation for a healthy pregnancy. Many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture during the first trimester in the treatment of morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum (severe vomiting during pregnancy).

During the first trimester acupuncture can also relieve tiredness and fatigue, bleeding, headaches, migraines and sinusitis.

During the second trimester acupuncture can be used, for example, in the treatment of heartburn, fatigue, stress, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, cystitis, and constipation.

In the third trimester common complaints treated include back pain, sciatica, pubic and joint pain.

Likewise, Chinese medicine has been treating breech presentation successfully for centuries by application of moxibustion.

TCM Practice is a member of Acupuncture Fertility Network UK