Preparing for Fertility Acupuncture
Prior to Your Appointment
Please fill out the COVID-19 screening form emailed to you via Jane App EMR. 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 wear your mask into the building and the clinic. 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 or feet to help increase oxygen and nutrient rich blood flow towards the reproductive organs.
Electro-stim Machines - Dr. Rachel will sometimes use the gentle vibrations of an electro-stim 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, Dr. Rachel will email you a copy of your receipt! *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.
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 IUI, IVF or medicated and/or monitored cycles
• Egg retrieval day for IVF
• Pre and post-IVF transfer day
• Pre IUI day
• Implantation day (4-8 days IUI/Timed, 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, prolactin, cortisol)
• Promotes ovulation
• Benefits underlying conditions (PCOS, endometriosis, PMS)
• Improves stress response
• Improves the ovarian environment
• Thickens uterine lining
• Reduces ectopic pregnancies
• Supports implantation
• Improves response to fertility medication
• Immune balance
• Helps the male factor – motility, testosterone
• Lowers miscarriage rate
• Assists with the two week wait
How Does It Work?
Conceive Health’s fertility acupuncture treatments are designed to increase your chances of getting pregnant, staying pregnancy and improving your 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
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/
