By Sue Bailes, Odette Aguirre & Lucie Trinephi

Undergoing IVF can be very stressful and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Physically the drugs can play havoc with your system.

Acupuncture treats the mind, body and spirit and therefore our acupuncturists may be able to help you deal with the challenges you face undergoing IVF.Acupuncture to support IVF, in Walthamstow

We believe the treatment works physically by balancing blockages in your body functions or energy channels.  Treatment aims to clear all pain and obstruction at the abdomen, neck and back to stimulate free flow of Qi. This is believed to help with hormonal and adrenal imbalances.

Treatment also works emotionally by reducing stress levels or any unbalanced emotions caused by everyday life or simply the anxiety of trying to get pregnant that many couples experience.

 

Acupuncture treatment is tailored to the individual and is adjusted at each stage of the IVF process. “Generally speaking it aims to manage the negative side effects of medication and support you physically and emotionally” explains Sue.  Chinese Medicine diagnostic techniques are used to find imbalances which are usually the root of the problem, in order to formulate an individual treatment plan tailored to your specific pattern of disharmony.

 

There are some particular stages when treatment seems to be most useful, for example on the day of embryo transfer to prepare the body for the implantation. And as Odette says “we find it’s very important to work on relaxation and stress release in all of the stages of IVF treatment”.   There is some research suggesting that acupuncture helps improve implantation and live birth rates for women undergoing IVF.

 

We suggest that you have acupuncture treatment in the run up to IVF so that your body is in optimal condition to conceive.  A 3 month period is the minimum required. Ideally a preparation period of 6-9 months is advised in order to address problematic factors and to make lifestyle changes such as optimising diet, exercise, reducing stress factors etc.   Lucie explains that “this period will also allow the Kidney essence to replenish, which is seen in Chinese medicine to  improve the body’s response to IVF”.

 

For more information or to make an appointment please phone us on 020 8520 5268.  Our therapists offer free 15 minute consultations to help you choose the most suitable treatment.