Tag: fertility acupuncture

Why is Acupuncture popular during IVF?

by JMReflex, posted in Acupuncture, Fertility, fertility acupuncture, ICSI, IVF, Male Factor, Stress

Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular within the IVF world and many clinics recommend acupuncture to patients to help support them through the journey. But what is it about acupuncture that makes it so popular for the IVF process?

There is a huge wealth of scientific study and evidence to show that acupuncture has a positive effect on IVF outcomes. It is easy to do a quick internet search to find lots of research articles and scientific studies on this topic. It is a widely researched area and there is a lot of interest. For further information about studies and outcomes, please see this fact sheet from the British Acupuncture Council.

Let’s now focus on the physical aspects of acupuncture and the IVF process. The reproductive system is a particularly vascular system, and therefore inserting needles into that area of the body will create a micro-trauma. This sends extra blood, oxygen and nutrients into the area, helping to regulate uterine and ovarian blood flow and encourage follicular development (eggs) and endometrial development (the lining of the uterus).

Acupuncture has an impact on hormones and the communication within the endocrine system, thus having a positive effect on menstrual cycles. Specifically points on the head can have a direct effect on the pituitary gland. Likewise, serotonin and dopamine are our neurotransmitters, and acupuncture can offer regulation of these, so patients start to feel better and in balance. Acupuncture therefore can help navigate the side effects often felt from IVF drugs, such as headaches, nausea, hot flushes, low mood.

For men, needles in the lower abdomen and legs is going to increase blood flow to the testes and will positively effect the semen. Semen are constantly being manufactured within the body so changes can happen quickly and swiftly.

Alongside the physical aspect of acupuncture there is also the emotional support an acupuncturist will offer as you go through the IVF process. Being able to talk to someone knowledgeable, caring and in confidence during a very stressful time, when you might be wanting to keep your journey private from friends and family, can be really helpful and a lifeline for support during the process.

IVF Acupuncture – Does it Work?

by JMReflex, posted in Acupuncture, Fertility, fertility acupuncture, ICSI, IVF, Menstrual Cycle, Reflexology

IVF acupuncture is acupuncture to support you through the IVF process.

Ideally you will work with me for 3 months before your IVF treatment begins so that you are fully prepared for success.

Many clients come to me after they have had an unsuccessful first round. We look at the unsuccessful cycle and review what happened, and reflect upon what can be done differently next time.

It is such an emotionally challenging and stressful time for couples; having independent support is invaluable. It’s not simply needles; it is having someone to talk to and knowing someone has your back throughout the journey.

Acupuncture points are often chosen on the lower leg, ankles and feet, wrists and abdomen. But everyone is individual and points are chosen based on your particular pattern.

Acupuncture is powerful after egg collection to help your body heal from this procedure quickly so that you are ready and energised for the embryo transfer around 5 days later.

Getting 1-2 acupuncture treatments in after egg collection, and then one before embryo transfer can be really helpful.

A “baby bank” with details of couples who have trusted in me to support them through their fertility journeys is forthcoming. I am also preparing an e-book to help you set good foundations for your fertility journey.

How can I increase my chances of IVF success?

by JMReflex, posted in Acupuncture, AMH, Fertility, fertility acupuncture, ICSI, IVF, Male Factor, Pregnancy, Stress, Stress, TCM

IVF is a process which shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is hard on couples from all angles; emotionally, mentally and physically.

The drugs used are heavy duty; creating all sorts of side effects and mood swings. The process involves physical incisions through the vaginal wall and on the ovaries – multiple cuts in fact – depending on how many follicles you have. A lot of energy is required for your body to heal. You will also be sedated and this can take time to recover from.

Then there is the agonizing wait to see if any eggs fertilized, and how well they develop to day 5 where you will then have another procedure to transfer the embryo into your womb. And the 2 week wait begins, alongside more drugs.

It is an emotional roller coaster and exhausting; taxing mentally and physically with trips in and out of the clinic for tests and scans.

For such a consuming process, wouldn’t you want to prepare the best that you can to maximise your chances of success? Its not something you should walk into without first fully investigating what the problems are with your inability to conceive naturally, and to really prepare your body and the environment within which your eggs are recruited and collected, and then transferred back for implantation and ongoing pregnancy.

Preparation is key when it comes to IVF success. Don’t allow a fertility clinic to use your first round as a diagnostic; that’s way too expensive both financially and for your health and overall wellbeing.

Find someone to help you through the process and work with a specialist who can take a deep dive into your lifestyle and nutrition, and offer you acupuncture as part of your preparation program.

Contact me for an initial chat and start your preconception journey with me today.

Fertility and Constipation

by JMReflex, posted in Acupuncture, constipation, Fertility, fertility acupuncture, Probiotics, Reflexology

If you suffer with regular constipation, and are trying to conceive, then improving your bowel movements can make a huge difference to how you feel and improve your chances of conception.

When we don’t release our waste at least daily, we are storing lots of debris and toxins within the body. We are also compromising our main detox pathway, and this means that new waste cannot be released by the body, leaving us feeling bloated and sluggish, and disrupting chances of conception.

If you are on a lot of medication, for pain for example, then this can also contribute to constipation.

If you find that your faeces is sticky and you are having to wipe a lot to get clean after using the toilet, then you could be at risk of trans-locating bacteria from the bowel into the vagina, causing vaginal dysbiosis: upset with the vaginal biome. If this happens then the vagina is not an environment that is friendly to sperm, and won’t be conducive to conception, as well as potential additional symptoms such as vaginal pain and itching, creating distress and anxiety.

The bowel is the body’s main detox pathway for oestrogen. Excess oestrogen is bound up in the liver and then released into the bowel for excretion. If it is not excreted regularly then this means that excess oestrogen is remaining inside the body, causing imbalance and disharmony. Furthermore, if you have gut dysbiosis, this can signal to the bowel to reabsorb the oestrogen coming from the liver, and send it back into circulation again. This then creates an oestrogen dominant state within the body.

General lifestyle tips for relieving constipation and improving the consistency of the stool is to increase your consumption of vegetables and fruit, and to increase your water intake. Please also see my other blog post on constipation in general, and for self-help tips.

If you are looking for fertility support in Lancashire please get in touch.

If you are experiencing issues like this, or other issues relating to fertility support, please get in touch with me for an appointment.

IVF: Why days 3-5 are key

by JMReflex, posted in Acupuncture, Fertility, fertility acupuncture, ICSI, IVF, Male Factor

When going through IVF, and in particular ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), its super important to pay as much attention to male factor as it is female.

Usually when using ICSI there is an issue with sperm, and its ability to penetrate the egg for fertilisation. This might be due to poor morphology or low sperm count for example. Or perhaps you have tried IVF before and the eggs failed to fertilise naturally. ICSI allows the sperm to be injected directly into the egg by an embryologist.

Some might say that the ability of the sperm to penetrate the egg is no longer important as this penetration is bypassed by the injection technique.

However, just because the sperm is manually injected into the egg, doesn’t mean that its role is then finished!

As the embryo starts to develop, the egg’s energy is solely used to power cellular division, up to around day 3. From day 3-5, the male chromosomes start to contribute to the development of the embryo.

If you have experienced embryos that have arrested in development at this stage, it is a clear message that what’s actually underneath isn’t healthy enough, the genetic material isn’t viable enough, what’s happening with the male Qi is not good enough for the sperm to power through an embryo development.

Taking time for the man to work on and improve his health and lifestyle for the next 3 cycles before going for another round of IVF is super important and really effective.

Allowing a couple 3 months to prepare for conception, whether that be naturally or through IVF is really good advice. It takes around 100 days for an egg to mature, and the same amount of time for health improvements and lifestyle changes to be reflected in sperm.

Taking the time to really focus on your health and prepare properly really is key when you are trying to conceive.

Book in for acupuncture with me today and start your journey feeling fully supported and empowered through your fertility journey.

If you are looking for fertility support in Lancashire please get in touch.

Let’s talk about periods

by JMReflex, posted in Acupuncture, Fertility, Menstrual Cycle

Did you know that a true menstrual period only comes if ovulation occurred. This means that if you are on the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) and have “periods”, these are really withdrawal bleeds and not true menstrual periods. This is because the OCP prevents you from ovulating.

If you are trying to conceive then it is wise to give your body time to readjust from stopping OCP and get back to a normal cycle.

Period Flow

The flow of your period should be tracked on the day that menstrual blood starts flowing properly (this would be marked as day 1). Often light spotting can occur beforehand so only class day 1 of your period when it gets going properly.

A normal, healthy period would be 3-5 days of bleeding and have a clear end. A regular flow is normal.

Heavy flow and flooding are something to be flagged. This would be more than 5-7 days of bleeding, or if you are having to change sanitary products more than every 2-3 hours. These issues might indicate issues such as thyroid imbalances, fibroid, low iron.

Likewise, very light pink blood for less than 3 days is also something to be flagged. This might be a sign of low oestrogen levels.

Period Pain

Rate your pain levels on a scale of 0-10. Mild cramping when your period starts is normal. Anything more should be flagged. Does it stop you from going to work? Do you need to take pain killers? Do you need to use a hot water bottle? Anything more than a 1 on the scale indicates a red flag. Where is the pain in your body? e.g. headaches, abdominal pain, breast pain, lower-back pain? These can all be clues and could indicate imbalances that can be addressed.

Period Frequency

Cycle length (day 1 to the next day 1) should be 24-35 days in length. There should be a clear start and end to the period.

If you have spotting before or afterwards this is something to be noted. Similarly, the colour of the blood should be a healthy red colour with no clots. If it is pink, dark red, purple, or black, then these are all flags to be noted.

Acupuncture

After discussing all of the above in a consultation, acupuncture can help rebalance the body with certain point prescriptions based on your symptoms. Alongside regular acupuncture, lifestyle changes and wellbeing techniques can also be adopted to optimise health and chances of conception.

There are lots of things to think about and consider with fertility awareness. Education is key and having knowledgeable support from an acupuncturist or reflexologist can be invaluable.

If you are looking for fertility support in Lancashire please get in touch.

Stress is a thief

by JMReflex, posted in Acupuncture, Fertility, Health & Wellbeing, Journalling, Meditation, Menstrual Cycle, Mindfulness, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Spirituality, Stress

Stress is bandied about a lot across the internet and social media. But lets cut to the chase.

When you are chronically stressed (and this can be any type of stress, worry or fear because the body treats it all the same; as a threat) then your adrenal glands will secrete more of the hormone cortisol in order to keep you safe.

However, cortisol is made up of various ingredients, one of which is pregnenolone. This is where the steal happens. Pregnenolone is a key building block for the sex hormones: oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. When the body is stressed, it believes it is under threat, and the priority is survival. So of course, the body will prioritise using the ingredients to create cortisol, the stress hormone, over using it to create our sex hormones. Because if your cycle is irregular, or you have unusual mid-cycle bleeding for example, these are not life-threatening. But the body will interpret any stress as life threatening, so other processes of less importance will be “put on the back-burner”.

So if you are having fertility issues of any kind, identifying areas of stress in your life can be a pivotal starting point. Really take some time reviewing your daily activities and routines and see where things could be improved. Spend some time sitting quietly and try not to think about anything. If this is difficult, write down the thoughts or worries that keep reappearing. Other things to consider:

  • Meditation or some sort of spiritual connection
  • Reflexology and/or acupuncture, massage
  • Gentle exercise allowing time for recovery afterwards
  • Setting time aside to do the things you love to do

If you are looking for fertility support in Lancashire please call/email me directly to have a chat and book in.

Buns won’t bake in a cold oven

by JMReflex, posted in Acupuncture, Fertility

We’ve all heard the old saying “she’s got a bun in the oven”; a simple analogy of stating that someone is pregnant. But actually, this saying is true more than you might think. If you want to bake a bun, the oven must be warm right? The warmth gives all the ingredients the energy to transform together to create the desired outcome: a well-formed bun. This is all true for making babies. The environment in which the baby is conceived and implanted, and then subsequently grown and developed, needs to be one of which is warm.

One of the main areas I look at when seeing fertility clients is their tummy. I look at what they are wearing and whether they feel warm enough. Many women will wear cropped tops, or short tops that sit on the waist. Underwear may also be low sitting, which means the abdominal and lower back area where the uterus sits is not kept layered up and is prone to invasion of cold. Do you remember your mum or your gran telling you to wear a vest and tuck it into your knickers? This is absolutely sound advice for getting and staying pregnant!

Invasion of cold can also come from things like going outside with wet hair, no scarf, no coat, or sitting on cold surfaces. I’m not talking about doing it once, but repeatedly as a habit. Exposing our bodies regularly to cold exposure without warming up properly afterwards can lead to a manifestation of cold in the body. It is well known that going out in the autumn and winter with wet hair and no scarf can lead to us “catching a chill”, and this is the same for the abdominal area, which can lead to (or be a contributing factor of) fertility issues.

When the body is cold, the flow of Qi and Blood slows down. Our bodily fluids need energy from warmth to keep flowing freely and smoothly throughout the body. If the abdomen is on the cold side, this means that Qi and Blood are not flowing freely to and from the uterus, creating stagnation and leading to stasis.

Losing some weight around the middle can help a lot to increase warmth and disperse cold from this area. If you are looking at IVF you will know that there is usually advice as to the recommended BMI they recommend before starting your IVF journey. Lots of studies have also been done around obesity and pregnancy rates, indicating that a smaller waist can contribute to higher pregnancy rates.

When fertility clients come into see me, I will often ask to look at their tongue as well as palpate their tummy. The colour of the tongue can tell us a lot about what might be going on in the body from an acupuncture point of view. If the tongue shows me a blueish tinge then cold will be contributing factor to address.

Other signs of cold, or of Blood Stasis can be seen in menstrual blood, so if you are wanting to get pregnant then it is worth taking a note of your menstrual blood as well as monitoring your cycles. Look at the colour of the menstrual blood; it is bright red, or pink/orange, or dark red or purplish? What are the size of clots (if any) and the colour of those clots? Do you experience any cramping, bloating and pain before and during your period?

General things you can do to help dispel cold and warm up the abdominal area are:

  • Use a hot water bottle on your tummy or lower back regularly – if you’re sitting at your desk for a while use one then, or when relaxing on the sofa, or in bed at night.
  • Moxa patches are a great way to penetrate warmth and dispel cold. These are available in clinic. They simply attach to your tummy or lower back and will stay warm for 12-16 hours.
  • Incorporate herbs and spices into your diet. Things like ginger, garlic, cinnamon, mint, turmeric are all great for dispelling and dispersing stasis in the body and getting things warmed up and moving. Ginger & Turmeric Tea is a good way of doing this.
  • Get regular acupuncture to support your fertility journey.

If you are looking for fertility support in Lancashire please call/email me directly to have a chat and book in.