Acupuncture for Fertility

ACUPUNCTURE FOR FERTILITY
AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

We believe no one should struggle to get pregnant. We believe you need to choose what is best for your fertility journey. We believe there is always hope, no matter how long you have been trying to conceive. We believe all bodies are powerful and fertile. We believe same sex couples should have families too. If you have been trying for 1 day or ten years, you matter to us. We are here for you.

Research has shown that acupuncture not only improves your overall health, but also delivers the nourishment and hormones that grow healthy eggs and a receptive uterine lining. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help you to get pregnant.

Our Pre-Conception Plan

Ideally it is best to schedule 3 – 6 months of acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbal remedies BEFORE conception, and if not, then as early in pregnancy as possible. Every woman has different needs, and there is NOT a “one-size-fits-all” diet and supplement approach for pre-conception, fertility and pregnancy.

For example, some people will need more time (up to 6 months or more) to correct imbalances in their bodies if they have been diagnosed with Hashimoto, endometriosis, or PCOS, so this is why we encourage you to consider:

Thyroid assessment is important, as low thyroid hormone can prevent conception, cause miscarriage, and preterm labor.
Determine if you are on the PCOS spectrum, and treat for it, not just to get pregnant, but because it’s a lifelong condition with risk factors.
Assess toxic burden and detoxification function BEFORE pregnancy, so you can prevent hundreds of chemicals from feeding your growing baby. Toxic burden also interferes with conception, especially in “mature” couples.
Determine if you methylate properly (cell division depends on it), which can be affected by certain genetic mutations called MTHFR.
Ensure that all your macro and micronutrient requirements are met.
Some women have high iron. If this is you, do not take it in your prenatal vitamin, as it may increase the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, and maternal high blood pressure.
Assess your blood sugar metabolism to prevent gestational diabetes.
High blood pressure management and treatment is critical to prevent preeclampsia during pregnancy, especially if you have any history of HBP.
Anxiety and depression can increase during, or after, pregnancy. Nutrition, supplements, and acupuncture can help these conditions
Your nutrient needs change for you and your baby throughout pregnancy. Know how to alter your supplement protocol during different months and trimesters.
Make sure you have adequate progesterone, in order to hold your pregnancy.

This is our area of specialization, we are ABORM board certified in Reproductive Acupuncture, we would love to help you with your growing family!

How We Work With You

We listen carefully, review your specific health history, and take into account all your questions and concerns regarding fertility and reproductive health. We offer treatments catered to each individual and understand that the process of becoming pregnant can be stressful and emotional.

We use treatments such as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to help regulate your cycles, reduce stress, and support you as you go through any type of cycle, whether your are trying naturally, using IVF, IUI, or any other treatment.

Our acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas, and nutritional and lifestyle protocols for fertility are based on research in the field of integrative reproductive medicine and supported by over 25 years of our clinical experience. Our treatments take a whole body-mind approach to your health. We work closely with the timing of your cycle and adjust your treatment plan as needed throughout your cycle.

We are Bellingham’s first Fertility Acupuncture clinic, with advanced training and certification in Reproductive Acupuncture, having partnered with some of the world’s best known authors and foremost specialists in Reproductive Acupuncture. We work closely with our area’s top Reproductive Endocrinologists and Fertility Doctors so that our treatments closely complement our patient’s western medical treatments. Our practice is dedicated to helping women and men achieve the best fertility outcomes through noninvasive, all natural therapies, herbs, lifestyle counseling, dietary and nutritional recommendations, and whole-food supplements.

For the 4.5 million couples who are experiencing infertility every year, acupuncture and Chinese herbs may be just what is needed. For more than two decades we have worked with patients with the following diagnoses:

Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Premature Ovarian Failure
Advanced Maternal Age
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Poor responders to medication/ART
Endometriosis
Irregular menstrual cycles
Annovulation
Luteal Phase Defect
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Poor Egg Quality
Thin uterine (endometrial) lining
Unexplained Infertility
High or elevated FSH

We know through both research – and common sense – that stress and psychological tension interferes with blood flow to the uterus and testes, so the first place we begin is to calm your mind in order to regulate your menses and improve the quality of your eggs and sperm. The studies show that acupuncture has specific and beneficial outcomes for regulating the pituitary and hypothalamus messages signaling to the ovaries and testes.

The next step is to help create a healthy lifestyle plan for optimal fertility, which includes our delicious dietary recommendations and prenatal vitamins for essential nutrients that are often depleted by our modern agricultural practices of mass pesticide and fertilizer use.

Please read below for more information about specific cycles. If you don’t see your situation listed, please call our clinic. We are happy to help you understand and learn all that you can about your body and offer emotional and therapeutic care and support.

Conceiving Naturally

While we often see women under the care of an OB/GYN or Reproductive Endocrinologist, many of our patients are trying to conceive naturally. For these women, our protocols are based on the timing of their natural cycles and will vary from patient to patient. The possible benefits of using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and nutritional and lifestyle counseling while trying to conceive naturally are to:

Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve sleep
Regulate your menstrual cycle and balance your hormones
Improve egg quality
Increase thickness and quality of the endometrial lining
Improve pregnancy rates
Prevention and reduction uterine contractions after ovulation
Encourage healthy embryo implantation

You can expect about 3 treatments a cycle, depending on your cycle.

Medicated Cycle

Acupuncture can be used with any type of medicated cycle. The possible benefits of adding acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and nutritional and lifestyle counseling to your cycle are to:

Reduce stress and anxiety
Decrease medication side effects
Improve egg quality and quantity of eggs that have been stimulated from your antral follical reserve
Increase thickness and quality of the endometrial lining
Improve pregnancy rates
Prevention and reduction uterine contractions after ovulation
Encourage healthy embryo implantation

You can expect about 3 treatments during the cycle itself. Many patients choose to schedule preconception treatments in the month leading up to the IUI cycle.

IUI

The possible benefits of adding acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and nutritional and lifestyle counseling to your IUI cycle are to:

Reduce stress and anxiety
Decrease medication side effects
Improve egg quality and quantity of eggs that have bee stimulated from your antral follical reserve
Increase thickness and quality of the endometrial lining
Improve pregnancy rates
Prevention and reduction uterine contractions after the IUI
Encourage healthy embryo implantation

You can expect about 3 treatments during the IUI cycle itself. Many patients choose to schedule preconception treatments in the month leading up to the IUI cycle.

IVF

There is much clinical research supporting the use of acupuncture during an IVF cycle. We only prescribe Chinese herbs for these cycles with the consent of your doctor. Some of the possible benefits from doing acupuncture and nutritional and lifestyle counseling along with your IVF cycle are:

Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve sleep
Decrease medication side effects
Improve egg quality and quantity of eggs that have been stimulated from your antral follical reserve
Increase thickness and quality of the endometrial lining
Improve IVF pregnancy rates and live birth rates
Prevention and reduction uterine contractions after IVF embryo transfer
Encourage healthy embryo implantation
Hormone regulation

You can plan on about 4-6 treatments during the IVF cycle itself, however research has shown that 9-12 treatments before IVF begins is optimal for improving live birth outcomes. The acupuncture treatments are specifically planned around the timing of your cycle and vary depending on the type of IVF cycle. We typically begin treatment when you begin your cycle of medications, but can start at any point in the cycle. Many patients choose to receive preconception treatments in the month leading up to the cycle to help prepare you for your cycle, which we highly recommend. Please contact us and we will walk you through what is best for your cycle.

Male Fertility

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has been used to treat men’s health concerns for thousands of years and is currently growing in popularity. We encourage all male partners to receive acupuncture to optimize their fertility while trying to conceive. We are effective because we address the root cause of the issue.

Sperm count can be lower than normal for many reasons including:

prescription drug use
THC from smoking pot
alcohol
free radical damage
sugar
caffeine
dairy
cell phone in front pocket
hot tubs
lap top usage
tight fitting underwear
bicycle riding
down bearing exercises (jogging)

Acupuncture can be helpful in treating the following common male factor infertility diagnoses:

Improve the overall quality of sperm
Improve motility and morphology
Decrease DNA fragmentation
Improve testosterone levels
Improve libido
Impotence

In order for acupuncture to be effective, treatment must begin a minimum of three months prior to any cycle and are generally given about every other week.