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Acupuncture with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Acupuncture is increasingly being used as an adjunct to modern fertility treatments. Preparation for IVF is best begun a few months prior to implantation in order to make the uterus as receptive as possible. However, treatment just a few weeks beforehand could also make a difference.

A number of studies have been conducted showing that combining acupuncture with IVF significantly increases the chances of success. Two areas have been looked at

General acupuncture based on individual diagnosis for several weeks before ART:

• In various studies, it has been found that acupuncture can affect hormones such as oestrogens, progesterone, LH, FSH, GnRH, Cortisol and Prolactin.

• A regulatory effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian-adrenal axis has also been found.

• A systematic review published in the British Medical Journal in February 2008 concluded that when combined with IVF, “acupuncture increased the odds of clinical pregnancy by 65%". To read this report in full, click here.

• The NHS News website concluded that this "systematic review is the strongest research method because it reduces the possibility that the effects are due to bias or chance. Complementary medicine needs more reviews like this". To read their report, click here.

Set protocols performed just before and after egg re-implantation:

• several studies have shown an increase in successful outcomes to ART using acupuncture around the time of embryo transfer.
• The most well known of these was published In the American Society for Reproductive Medicine magazine Fertility and Sterility Vol. 77 No.4, April 2002 and resulted in the creation of what is commonly referred to as the Paulus protocol

The Paulus Protocol

In 2002 Paulus et al published a paper called

"The Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in
patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy"

 To read what the BBC said about this, click here.

The Paulus Protocol is as follows
• A small number of set points are needled on the body and ear the day before re-implantation of the fertilised egg
• Small ‘ear seeds’ – mustard seeds on surgical tape – are placed over acupuncture points on the ear and are squeezed during transfer to stimulate the uterus
• Between one and three days after a different set of body and ear points are needled
• New ear seeds inserted and manipulated by the woman for the following three days

After conception no further treatment is required unless there is an obvious condition to be treated. Drug therapy should be avoided as far as possible whilst pregnant, as many drugs cross the placental wall. Conditions such as cystitis, hay fever, asthma, urinary tract infection UTI, sciatica and backache can be controlled by acupuncture during pregnancy, thus avoiding the need for conventional medication.


NB:  Like IVF treatment itself, the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture can not guarantee a pregnancy.

Source: Paul Johnson

Fertility - How does Chinese Medicine help and why is it so effective?

Many people who have had fertility success with Chinese Medicine probably have no idea how Chinese Medicine helps fertility, or gynaecological issues. They are just thankful that it does!

Recent research shows that acupuncture on its own can increase the pregnancy rates of people using IVF by up to 40%. (It can deliver the same rates for those not using IVF procedures too.) The studies used showed that these success rates could be achieved by using acupuncture for just one day shortly before and after the transfer of embryos. Just one day of acupuncture can produce those results! And that's just one study. Other studies and protocols can produce even better results.

From general fertility clinic experience, recent research and experience of fertility specialists, this rate can be increased to around 70% by combining both Chinese herbs and acupuncture for, and support throughout, IVF. These figures hold out for non-IVF patients too. We must point out, however, that approximately 5% of couples will never be able to conceive despite all combinations of both Chinese and Western treatment methods.

Large numbers of patients, who have tried IVF several times and were unsuccessful, have become pregnant soon after Chinese Medicine treatment. Medical imaging shows that after acupuncture, the colour of women's ovaries change from cloudy to bright and clear. The follicles double in number and the uterine lining becomes thicker. Patients’ experience less side effects from the Western drugs and feel better emotionally (that's a good thing).

In male patients, the sperm quality significantly improves and the sperm count increases. Research has now proved this. Research has also shown that the healthier a male is at conception, the healthier the sperm are, thus producing better embryos. Unhealthy males, and especially smokers, generally produce poorer embryos.

Chinese Medicine can improve fertility and pregnancy rates in several ways:

·        improve ovarian function to produce better quality eggs

·        regulate hormones to produce a greater number of follicles

·        increase blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness of the uterine lining

·        relax the patient and decrease stress levels

·        prevent the uterus from contracting

·        lessen the side effects of drugs used in IVF and gynaecology

·        strengthen the immune system (very important as Western Medicine treatments usually decrease immunity)

·        improve the sperm count and motility to produce better quality embryos

·        decrease and prevent the chances of miscarriage

Just goes to show the difference between falling pregnant and not falling pregnant. It's just like an athlete preparing for a big race, those who put in the training and get the body ready, both physically and mentally, have a much better chance of reaching the finishing line.

Source :Andrew Orr, Shen Therapies & Concept Shen