Acupuncture for IVF
IVF in Australia
Approximately one in eighteen babies born in Australia are conceived through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment (or IVF) (1). IVF, or In Vitro Fertilisation, is often the term most commonly referred to, however, is just one of the ART treatments that may be used to help achieve a pregnancy. Other variations of ART fertility treatments include intrauterine insemination (IUI), ovulation induction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
IVF Support at Yin Wellness Brisbane
Many of our Yin Wellness Brisbane fertility clients are using ART treatments (such as IVF and IUI) to conceive.
This can be for a range of reasons:
- medical conditions that contribute to either (or both) male factor or female factor infertility
- managing genetic disorders (with Pre-implantation Genetic Testing – PGT)
- unexplained infertility
- same sex couples and/or single people trying to conceive (typically with the help of donor sperm, donor eggs, embryos and/or surrogates)
- egg freezing for future fertility and family planning
At Yin, we recommend starting acupuncture as soon as possible – ideally 3 months (or 3 cycles) prior to starting IVF to align with the maturation timing of an oocyte (egg) and regeneration of sperm. For women, this period aligns with the ovarian cycle, allowing acupuncture to improve egg quality, regulate menstrual cycles, and enhance uterine blood flow, thereby creating a more favorable environment for implantation, conception and a healthy pregnancy. For men, the sperm regeneration process (spermatogenesis) is also two to three months so, similarly, we recommend starting regular acupuncture (and diet and lifestyle improvements) within this timeframe.
However, whilst we’d love to see you in your preconception phase and the months prior to starting IVF, we understand life doesn’t always work that way. You may have already started your IVF journey and just found out about how acupuncture can support this process. We are very happy to meet you where you are at and offer support and all stages of the IVF process (including pregnancy).
For an overview on IVF costs and implications of things like medicare, private health, bulk billing clinics and superannuation, this article may be helpful.
The Research for Acupuncture and IVF Support
There is now significant research supporting the benefits of acupuncture and IVF outcomes. Whilst the beginnings of research around acupuncture and IVF (2) was focussed primarily on treatments directly before and after embryo transfers, more recent studies (3) show even stronger results in a series of treatment leading up to commencing IVF cycle. This is another reason that we focus on preconception acupuncture support at Yin (where possible). If interested in reading more detail about the evidence for IVF and acupuncture, click through to our blog – “Acupuncture for IVF – what’s the research?”
How Does Acupuncture Support IVF?
Whilst we tailor our treatments to each individual, there are a number of common themes and objectives to how we support IVF with acupuncture at Yin Wellness Brisbane:
1. Enhancing Blood Flow to the Uterus and Ovaries
We use both local and distal acupuncture points to increase the Qi (energy) and blood flow to the reproductive organs. This means you may have some “local” points – ie lower abdominal points at specific stages of the cycle. We also use “distal” points – ie use the meridian system to direct Qi and blood via points at other ends of these channels (eg with points on the hands and/or feet). Improved blood circulation in this area is with a focus on the development of a thick, healthy endometrial lining to support the embryo implantation. Various studies (4) have demonstrated that acupuncture increases uterine blood flow, potentially creating a more conducive environment for embryo implantation and growth. A more recent study (5) concluded that acupuncture can significantly improve endometrial receptivity in people preparing for embryo transfers.
2. Reducing Stress and Anxiety
The process of undergoing IVF can be incredibly stressful, and there is still debate about whether stress can directly impact fertility. Either way, we know that stress and anxiety can affect our hormone regulation and general sense of well being. So all of our treatments have a focus on relaxation both in the session and in between. More and more research is coming out to support the effect of acupuncture and reducing stress during IVF. (6). You can read more about the research for acupuncture supporting anxiety in IVF by clicking here and read some Chinese Medicine tips on how to support stress here.
3. Reducing IVF Side Effects
The medications used in IVF treatments can cause various side effects, including bloating, mood swings, and fatigue. In our clinical practice, we see patients get relief from these side effects, improving their overall well-being whilst undergoing IVF. This supportive role of acupuncture can make the IVF process more tolerable and less physically taxing, which might indirectly improve the chances of a successful outcome . Typically studies conducted on IVF and acupuncture are more focussed on pregnancy rates and live birth outcomes so there is less formal evidence to support the reduction of IVF side effects with acupuncture. However, whilst more research is required, this is an area where we often see results in our clinical practice at Yin.
More Info
Yin Fertility Acupuncturists
All of our acupuncturists at Yin are degree qualified and AHPRA registered. Our passion is hormonal health support (often referred to as ‘women’s health”). For many this is a focus on fertility and pregnancy, however, also includes menstrual conditions such as dysmenorrhea (painful periods), amenorrhea (an absence of the period), irregular cycles, endometriosis, PCOS, pelvic pain, migraines, PMS, PMDD to perimenopause and beyond.
Please give us a call if you would like to know more
(0466 331 737) or book with one of our practitioners online.
References
- Newman JE, Paul RC, Chambers GM 2023. Assisted reproductive technology in Australia and New Zealand 2021. Sydney: National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, the University of New South Wales, Sydney.
2. Paulus, W. E., et al. (2002). Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility and Sterility, 77(4), 721-724.
3. Hullender Rubin LE, Opsahl MS, Wiemer KE, Mist SD, Caughey AB. Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015 Jun;30(6):602-12. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.02.005. Epub 2015 Feb 24
4. Stener-Victorin, E., et al. (1996). Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. Human Reproduction, 11(6), 1314-1317.
5. Yang J, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Zhou C, Liang Q, Liang T. Acupuncture combined with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists improves endometrial receptivity and pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent implantation failure of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024 Aug;41(8):2185-2192. doi: 10.1007/s10815-024-03140-7. Epub 2024 Jun 7. PMID: 38847932.
6. Smith CA, Armour M, Shewamene Z, Tan HY, Norman RJ, Johnson NP. Acupuncture performed around the time of embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biomed Online. 2019 Mar;38(3):364-379. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.12.038. Epub 2019 Jan 2. PMID: 30658892.