Pregnancy

Treatments are available to support you throughout your pregnancy to assist your body and mind in both the early, mid and later stages continuing to labour and beyond.

Infertility and IVF Supporting Treatment

Many patients come for treatment whilst undertaking IVF treatments, they may come for massage, acupuncture, some for a mixture of both. This is becoming an increasingly popular choice for both parties involved, female and male. The treatments are designed to aid relaxation as well as improve blood flow to the bodies systems. Kay has not performed recorded research in this area however other people have. Research (Liang,L. 2003) suggests that success rates of IVF can be considerably enhanced by 40-60% utilising acupuncture treatment.

It is also common to have treatments using acupuncture in preparation to the IVF cycle and some success has been achieved with many patients who have concieved after receiving acupuncture prior to the onset of the IVF treatments. The reason for this could be improved state of relaxation or may be a result of treatment focused internal changes.

It is recommended that you try to start treatments several months before your first cycle of IVF however we realise that this is not always possible. Please contact Kay to discuss your individual requirements and for more information and advise regarding these treatments.

Further reading (Pregnancy)

C Smith, C Crowther, J Beilby – Birth. Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. 2002 – Wiley Online Library

R Manber, RN Schnyer, JJB Allen, AJ Rush. Acupuncture: a promising treatment for depression during pregnancy. Journal of affective …, 2004 – Elsevier

Murphy,PA. Alternative therapies for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1998 – journals.lww.comy

Further reading (Infertility and IVF )

Cai XF (1997) Substitution of Acupuncture for HCG in ovulation induction. Journal of traditional Chinese Medicine(17)2 119-121-108.

Ji of Acupuncture,Ma RH,Wang ZX,Liu SH (1999) Acupuncture treatment of infertility due to irregular menstruation and influence of Acupuncture hypo-thalamus-pituitary-overian axis. International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture 10(40 343-7 RCT, N=98,acu pregnancy rate 69%,drug regime 40%.

Jin Y(2002)Study on the effect of acupuncture on induction of ovulation. Medboo.\tcm \ejournal. RCT,N=22,Acu ovn, Rate 87%,Clomid 70%.

Wolfgang E Paulus, M.D.correspondence email, Mingmin Zhang. M.D., Erwin Strehler, M.D., Imam El-Danasouri. Ph.D., Karl Sterzik, Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility and Sterility. April 2002 Volume 77, Issue 4, Pages 721–724

Johnson D (2006). Acupuncture prior to and at embryo transfer in an assisted conception unit- A case series. Acupuncture in Medicine 24(1)23-8.

Li QD(1995) Acupuncture treatment in 100 cases of infertility in women. International Journal of clinical Acupuncture.6.(2) 211-212.

Madaschi, C, Braga, DPAF. Figueira, RCS. Effect of acupuncture on assisted reproduction treatment outcomes. Acupuncture in …, 2010 – aim.bmj.com

Magarelli, PC, Cridennda, DK. (2004) Acupuncture and IVF poor responders: A cure? Fertility and Sterility 81 (April): Suppl 3.

Naaktgeboren, N. Trimbos-Kemper, TCM. In-vitro fertilization: the experience of treatment, pregnancy and delivery…, – Human …, 1996 – ESHRE

Smith C, M Coyle, RJ Norman. Influence of acupuncture stimulation on pregnancy rates for women undergoing embryo transfer. Fertility and sterility, 2006 – Elsevier.