For LGBTQIA+ individuals and sole people seeking to become parents, the journey to building a family often involves assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IVF, IUI (intrauterine insemination), surrogacy, or sperm, egg or embryo donation.
At Yin Wellness Brisbane, we’re proud to offer a safe and affirming space for all families and to walk alongside you – wherever your path to parenthood takes you.
Medicare Rebates Now Fairer for All Families
We’re so happy to update on recent changes to Medicare, being a big win for equality in fertility care. Now, LGBTQIA+ couples and single parents are finally eligible for Medicare rebates when accessing fertility treatments, without needing to prove “medical infertility.”
Previously, there was a lack of consistency across fertility clinics. Some single people and LGBTQIA+ individuals could access Medicare rebates, but others were required to demonstrate “infertility” – often through multiple unsuccessful, non rebatable rounds of IUI or IVF.
This system unfairly placed the burden on people who were not medically infertile, but needed assistance due to their circumstances – such as not having a partner who could provide sperm or eggs. Some fertility specialists interpreted the rules strictly, while others took a more inclusive and compassionate approach.
Working With Inclusive Fertility Specialists
At Yin, inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. Whilst we’re proud to work alongside a broad range of fertility specialists, we’ve always encouraged our clients to those who have long supported LGBTQIA+ individuals and solo parents with fair and affirming care – even before this Medicare change. These practitioners have consistently aligned with our values of respect, accessibility, and equality in fertility care.
How Acupuncture Supports Fertility
Whether you’re starting out with IUI, preparing for IVF, using donor sperm or eggs, or embarking on surrogacy, acupuncture can provide valuable support throughout the process.
Some of the benefits of fertility acupuncture include:
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Supporting hormonal balance and menstrual regularity (1)
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Enhancing uterine blood flow and endometrial receptivity (2)
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Calming the nervous system and reducing stress (3,4)
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Supporting sperm quality and egg health (5)
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Improving outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) (6)
Our treatments are always tailored to your individual journey. We take the time to understand your path, your goals and what support looks like for you.
Inclusive Fertility Support
We firmly believe that everyone deserves compassionate, high-quality care on their journey to parenthood, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or relationship status. As outlined in our values, inclusivity is one of our core principles.
For us this means:
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Providing a respectful and affirming space for all individuals.
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Using inclusive language in all our consultations and resources.
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Tailoring treatments to suit the unique fertility pathways of our clients.
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Collaborating with value aligned fertility specialists and other healthcare professionals to ensure well-rounded care.
If you’re an LGBTQIA+ individual or a solo parent navigating IVF, IUI, surrogacy, or donor conception, we are here to support you with personalised acupuncture treatments. We understand that every path to parenthood is different, and we are honoured to be part of yours.
References:
1. Li, Q. Q., Shi, G. X., Xu, Q., Wang, J., Liu, C. Z., & Wang, L. P. (2013). Acupuncture effect and central autonomic regulation. *Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine*, 2013, 267959. doi:10.1155/2013/267959
2. 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; PMCID: PMC11339202.
3. Rooney, K. L., & Domar, A. D. (2018). The relationship between stress and infertility. *Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience*, 20(1), 41–47. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.1/klrooney
4. Smith, C. A., de Lacey, S., Chapman, M., et al. (2019). The effects of acupuncture on the secondary outcomes of anxiety and quality of life for women undergoing IVF: A randomized controlled trial. *Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica*, 98, 460-469.
5. Zhou, Wang, Zhao, Guo; “Acupuncture for the Treatment of Male Infertility- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 56(3), pages 48072-48087, May 2024. DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2024.56.008851 (2024)
6. Hullender Rubin, L. E., Opsahl, M. S., Wiemer, K. E., Mist, S. D., & Caughey, A. B. (2015). Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes. *Reproductive Biomedicine Online*, 30(6), 602-612. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.02.005