IVF and IUI Support

Acupuncture during IVF and IUI

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and IUI (intra-uterine insemination) are assisted reproductive techniques offered to couples who have been having trouble conceiving. IVF involves the uniting of an egg and sperm in the laboratory (in vitro) followed by the transfer of fertilised embryos back into the woman’s womb. IUI is performed by collecting a sample of the best sperm from the partner and passing it into the womb during ovulation time.

IUI and IVF can be costly procedures, with IUI starting at a more affordable £500 per cycle whilst IVF cycles usually cost from around £4000 depending on the clinic you are visiting. Despite the considerable costs, success rates can be low, and with the average couple needing 6 cycles of IUI, or 3 cycles of IVF to get pregnant, the overall cost of fertility treatment can easily exceed £10,000.

How does Acupuncture help with IVF and IUI?

A recent publication in the British Medical Journal reviewed the evidence from seven clinical studies (1366 participants) involving Acupuncture used in conjunction with IVF treatments. The article concluded that Acupuncture can help to increase the chances of achieving a clinical pregnancy with IVF by a considerable 65%. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can effectively improve chances of success during IVF in the following ways:

For her during the natural cycle

- Improving the egg quality, especially important for older women

- Improving thickness and quality of the endometrial lining

- Increasing ovarian and uterine blood flow

- Regulating the hormones FSH and LH, oestrogen and progesterone

- Normalise follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle

- Regulating ovulation

- Relieving stress-related fertility problems.

For her during the IVF/IUI cycle

- Improves the body’s response to hormones

- Improves implantation rates

- Reduces rates of miscarriage

- Reduces anxiety levels

- Reduces side effects of IVF/IUI medications.

For him

- Increase low sperm count

- Increase sperm motility

- Improving sperm morphology

- Improve sperm genetic abnormalities.

When should I start Acupuncture?

Lily sees patients at different stages of trying to conceive. Most patients who seek fertility treatment with Lily are interested in enhancing their natural fertility before they move onto the next steps of IVF and IUI, especially if they are suffering from gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovaries. For these patients, starting their acupuncture treatment in the two or three months preceding their scheduled IVF or IUI gives their bodies time to prepare. This gives the Acupuncture a chance to regulate differing aspects of the woman’s cycle prior to starting IVF.

How often do I need to have Acupuncture?

Most patients will require weekly treatments on the run up to their IVF and IUI treatment. This allows Lily to treat the women at differing stages of their natural cycles and to influence the hormones dominant during those particular times of the cycle.

Acupuncture needs to be performed at certain stages of the fertility treatment cycle and has been shown to be particularly influential when carried out at egg collection and embryo transfer for IVF procedures. For IUI the acupuncture sessions are timed around the insemination procedure. Lily will discuss the dates with you as you come up to the fertility treatment in order to determine when the most important times to have Acupuncture would be.

Interested in knowing more?

If you want to find out more about Acupuncture for fertility, IVF or IUI, please feel free to drop Lily a call or an email today.