Preparing for Fertility Acupuncture
Prior to Your Appointment
Please wear comfortable clothing that allows pants to be rolled up to knees and abdomen to be revealed. A gown will be provided if this is not possible.
Arriving at Your Appointment
Please proceed to Niagara Fertility on the 3rd floor. The suite number is 3D. Please knock at the 2nd door upon arrival at the clinic. Dr. Rachel will come to greet you.
During Your Acupuncture Session:
Guided Meditations - Dr. Rachel will match fertility-specific guided meditations to your individual cycle and fertility care.
Infrared Heated Lamps - Dr. Rachel will use infrared heat over the uterus and/or feet to help increase oxygen and nutrient rich blood flow towards the reproductive organs.
Electro-stim Machines and TENS pads - Dr. Rachel will sometimes use the gentle vibrations of an electro-stim machine and/or TENS machine to increase stimulation of our acupuncture points.
How It Will Feel
Typically, acupuncture does not hurt and you may not even feel the needles. Normal acupuncture sensations you may feel during the session are: heavy, deep achy, tender, sore, itchy, warm, throbbing at the needle insertion point. These sensations typically dissipate throughout the duration of your treatment if they occur and are seen as good acupuncture sensations, as blood and Qi are moving to the area. You may also experience a sharp, shooting sensation during the insertion of an acupuncture needle. This indicates that a nerve close by is being bothered and we will readjust the needle for your comfort. With any needle, there may be risk of some small pinpoint bleeding, redness and bruising at the site of the insertion.
After Your Appointment
No need to pay at the front desk. Your card on file will be charged and you will be emailed a copy of your receipt after!
*Please make sure that you have a valid credit card on file with by updating your profile on our encrypted Jane App Software.
*Acupuncture at Conceive is covered under most extended insurance plans under Naturopathic Services or Acupuncture depending on who is providing the service. Dr. Rachel’s sessions will be billed under naturopathic services and Stephanie’s sessions will be billed under acupuncture services.
Dr. Rachel will scheduled your follow up appointment at the end of your session, or you can schedule your next appointment using the JANE APP EMR ONLINE BOOKING system or by emailing info@conceivehealthclinic.com.
How Often Should You Come In?
• Once a week for natural cycle acupuncture
Twice a week for TIC/IUI, IVF or medicated and/or monitored cycles
• Pre IUI day
• Egg retrieval day for IVF - pre retrieval
• Pre and post-IVF transfer day
• Implantation day (2-3 days post IUI as well as 4-8 days and 12-14 days post IUI/Timed Intercourse, 5-8 days post IVF)
• Once a week for early pregnancy support weeks 4-12
Benefits of Fertility Acupuncture
• Regulates your cycle
• Balances hormones (FSH, LH, prolactin, androgens, estrogen and cortisol)
• Promotes ovulation
Benefits underlying conditions (PCOS, endometriosis, PMS, poor egg quality)
• Improves response to fertility medication
• Improves stress response
• Improves the ovarian environment and egg quality
• Thickens uterine lining
• Reduces ectopic pregnancies
• Supports implantation
• Immune balance
• Helps male factor infertility related to sperm quality issues – motility, testosterone
Assists with the two week wait
Assists with managing symptoms during 1st trimester
Lowers miscarriage rate
How Does It Work?
Conceive Health’s fertility acupuncture treatments are designed to increase your chances of getting pregnant, staying pregnancy and improving your natural, TIC/IUI or IVF treatment outcomes. Our fertility acupuncture protocols are based on research studies that use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Fine acupuncture needles are placed in areas over the body to increase and harmonize energy centers, “Qi” within the reproductive organs. Acupuncture also increases blood supply to the reproductive organs. Oxygen and nutrient rich blood flow is a predictor for not only good quality follicles, oocytes and embryos, but also for pregnancy outcome after ART. 6, 7
Acupuncture raises the level of endogenous opiates which can be helpful in pain management along with infrared heat for painful periods, low back pain and before egg retrieval during IVF. 1, 8, 9, 10, 11
Acupuncture also helps reduce sympathetic nerve stimulation (fight – or – flight) which can help helpful for anxiety and stress reduction. 1
Some Important Research Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome of IVF/ICSI, compared with no acupuncture. 1
Acupuncture may be a useful adjunct to gonadotropin therapy to produce follicles in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. 2
Acupuncture can be considered a successful treatment in restoring fertility by improving sperm quality, ovarian function and balancing the endocrine system and hormones. 3
Electroacupuncture enhances the number of mature oocytes and fertility rates for in vitro fertilization 5
The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture’s effectiveness for over 40 common disorders – many of which play a key role in IVF and IUI treatment (including stress and gynecological disorders). 4
If you are >35 acupuncture becomes very important for oocytes retrieved, embryo quality and likelihood of live birth.
It’s very important to keep going after the positive beta to increase the likelihood of progression.
REFERENCES:
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0015028206002123
2. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.509.9930&rep=rep1&type=pdf
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6182526/
4. https://www.who.int/
5. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/acu.2019.1368
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29479399/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15374700/
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30389956/
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21516008/
10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16960636/
11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23320024/
