infertility Archives » Infertility Acupuncture info NZ

Acupuncture to support sperm quality – where do you put the needles?

acupuncture, male fertility

Picture this: a lovely couple nervously sits in front of me during their first fertility acupuncture consultation. They want to know how acupuncture can help with male factor infertility.

Due to the male factor infertility diagnosis, the couple had already gone through three cycles of IVF with ICSI, recommended by a reproductive endocrinologist. Sadly, none of these cycles resulted in viable embryos. The gentleman’s eyes fill with tears as he shares his story.

He says, “I’m super healthy! I don’t smoke, drink or eat junk food, I work out regularly. Still… Nothing. We’re willing to try anything at this point.”.

March 4, 2021/by Roberta Mek

Poor IVF responder? Add acupuncture to improve outcomes

acupuncture, advanced maternal age, ART, IVF

Are you labelled as a poor IVF responder? Is there a way you can up your chances of making a baby? You know there are not many options. Can acupuncture help?

IVF is the numbers game. The important part of IVF is for your ovaries to safely produce as many follicles as possible. And poor IVF responders’ ovaries, as the name suggests, don’t grow many follicles. This means these IVF cycles are often cancelled. If you are lucky you may end up with a couple of oocytes. Furthermore, those eggs are less likely to turn into embryos.

The poor ovarian response (POR) is a diagnosis no one wants when trying to conceive. IVF clinics can’t do much to help you respond better. There are several IVF protocols you can try, but unfortunately, they are seldom successful.

So, what does poor IVF response diagnosis mean? Let’s take it apart.

April 17, 2020/by Roberta Mek

Depression, infertility and acupuncture

acupuncture, infertility, stress/anxiety

Can fertility acupuncture help with depression? It may sound like a strange idea, but the two may be more connected than you think. Let’s have a closer look.

Relax and it will happen, they say. Does your stress contribute to infertility or does the emotional rollercoaster of not being able to conceive lead to stress and depression? Stress and infertility – a classic Catch-22?

Many couples dealing with infertility experience increased levels of anxiety and depression, which can put a strain on their relationship and even affect their ability to conceive. Dealing with infertility causes significant distress.

Unmanaged depression can have a negative effect on a couple’s relationship. It can affect the libido in both partners, and it even has a toll on sperm quality. No surprise that men diagnosed with major depression are less likely to conceive a child. And women with severe symptoms have 38 per cent fewer conceptions each month.

So what can you do to address this? Are there any safe treatment options?

Many studies have explored and showed the negative effects of antidepressants on pregnancy and on health of a developing baby. We are not yet certain how these drugs affect fertility.

For instance, women undergoing medical treatment for depression are more likely to miscarry. The same study links the use of antidepressants and male infertility. If you are in a position to choose, discuss non-pharmaceutical treatment with your doctor. For those looking for a safe and effective alternative, fertility acupuncture may be worth considering.

How to overcome your depression naturally when trying for a baby

There are a few effective non-drug interventions. We recommend a combination of

August 2, 2019/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Why improve your endometrial lining and Acupuncture is the answer

acupuncture, infertility

Get your garden ready for your little seed! You may have heard that you need to prepare the soil before planting, and the same goes for getting your body ready for pregnancy. The uterine lining (endometrium) is where your future baby will attach, get nutrition, and grow. Furthermore, a healthy uterine lining can help reduce the risk of early miscarriage.

So, what’s the key to fertile soil for the baby? The ideal endometrial lining before the implantation should be about 8mm in thick and have a good blood circulation. Ideally, it will have a three-layer pattern, which it can be seen on the ultrasound. Women with better blood circulation in the endometrium have more live births with IVF.

Developing embryo relies on endometrial lining for nutrients until at least the tenth week of pregnancy. Uterine linings also regulates placental growth and differentiation.

However, treatments that optimise your endometrium are limited, and we don’t yet know of any lifestyle interventions that are proven to help. That’s where acupuncture comes in.

Why you should try acupuncture

June 7, 2019/by Roberta Mek

Pelvic inflammation – how acupuncture can help

acupuncture, chronic pelvic inflammation, female infertility

Our patients often ask how acupuncture boosts fertility.

One of the ways is by reducing inflammation in the reproductive system.

I recently came across this little study showing acupuncture’s anti-inflammatory effects for pelvic inflammatory disease.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is acute inflammation in your reproductive organs. It is a complication often caused by STIs, like chlamydia or gonorrhea. With a recent rise in reported STIs cases in New Zealand, there is an increased risk of women developing the pelvic inflammatory disease.

It’s concerning as you may not realise you have PID. Symptoms may be mild, or you may not feel any difference at all. However, if you have symptoms like

March 11, 2018/by Vitalis Skiauteris

What is the best fertility diet

diet and fertility, female infertility, IVF

Fertility diet

Do you find yourself scrolling through endless pages of conflicting advice on a fertility diet? Do you feel like after all that googling you haven’t found the answer?

Is dairy good or bad for fertility? Pineapples? Gluten? Go vegan? What about the Keto diet?

February 26, 2018/by Roberta Mek

Why you should try acupuncture for unexplained infertility

acupuncture, female infertility, infertility, unexplained infertility

Dealing with unexplained infertility can be incredibly challenging, especially because you don’t know the reason behind your struggles to conceive.

While lifestyle changes, timed intercourse, and medical treatments like Clomiphene citrate, intrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization (IVF) are commonly recommended by your general practitioner or reproductive endocrinologist, there may be other options to explore. In recent years, acupuncture has become an increasingly popular complementary treatment for couples experiencing unexplained infertility. Here we will analyse the reasons why acupuncture maybe your best option.

What role does acupuncture play in treating unexplained infertility?

At our clinic, we have seen firsthand the benefits and positive results that reproductive acupuncture can bring to couples struggling to conceive. In fact, we have witnessed some patients who had previously tried other treatments for for many years, conceive naturally under our care.

However, acupuncture research is underfunded and methodologically/technically challenging, therefore there are only a few research papers that specifically explore unexplained infertility.

So understandably, I was excited to see a paper that took on the challenge and shed light on acupuncture’s potential for unexplained infertility.

February 13, 2018/by Vitalis Skiauteris

How many acupuncture sessions will reduce your IVF stress?

acupuncture, ART, female infertility, infertility, stress/anxiety

IVF stress acupuncture

Stress affects your fertility. We can’t ignore this fact any longer.

Furthermore, long-term stress can reduce your IVF success. UK scientists measured cortisol levels in women undergoing IVF. They took samples of hair and saliva. Hair sampling allows analysis of cortisol over the preceding 3–6 months. While saliva sample shows immediate stress levels. Results were eye-opening. Women exposed to chronic stress were 27% less likely to conceive with IVF.

How many acupuncture sessions do you need to have a significant impact on stress?

Is it realistic to think that a single acupuncture session can reduce the cumulative effects of stress that has happened over a longer period, say 3-6 months?

A recent study led by Dr Sutton explored this question. They compared a month of regular acupuncture with one session on the day of embryo transfer. Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer is often recommended by reproductive endocrinologists.

To no surprise women who had several acupuncture sessions felt more relaxed. Unfortunately, researchers didn’t further explore if acupuncture dose has an impact on pregnancy rates.

February 12, 2018/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Get pregnant faster with acupuncture

acupuncture, female infertility, infertility, unexplained infertility

When you decide to have a family, you want to get pregnant fast. How can you speed up your fertility journey? Does it feel like you have tried everything? But have you?

Recently I found a fertility acupuncture study from Australia, which has some good tips.

What we know about fertility acupuncture mostly comes from the studies about IVF. In contrast to IVF research, general reproductive acupuncture studies are hard to come by. While we see many IVF patients, about 50% of our couples are trying to conceive naturally, in the privacy of their homes. So studies discussing Chinese Medicine treatment for fertility without IVF are interesting to us and our switched-on patients.

Can you actually get pregnant faster without IVF?

This Australian study explored the effect of acupuncture on fertility awareness and regularity of your cycle. But what they actually discovered will surprise you.

May 5, 2016/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Ovarian reserve – acupuncture offers new hope

acupuncture, advanced maternal age

Low ovarian reserve acupuncture

In this study, researchers investigated how acupuncture influenced ovarian reserve in women who had low ovarian reserve or “very few eggs left”. They used a kind of acupuncture with no needles, where very gentle electric impulses are used to stimulate acupuncture points. This study has shown improved the hormone levels including Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH). AMH test is a test often used by IVF clinics to estimate response to the IVF drugs. Researchers observed increased number of eggs collected with IVF. The embryo quality was also improved. Consequently, women who had acupuncture had better IVF pregnancy outcomes.

The study was published in The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research.

Are you interested in learning how your fertility can be optimised with acupuncture? Contact Dr Vitalis Acupuncture Auckland.

December 23, 2015/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Reproductive acupuncture vs medication for anovulation

acupuncture, anovulation, polycystic ovaries

anovulation LUFS fertilisation

How does reproductive acupuncture compares to the medication at improving ovulation?

One of the causes of anovulation is luteinised unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS).

LUFS affects 5%-10% of healthy women and 25%-43% of women with infertility. This syndrome is more common among women diagnosed with endometriosis.

Most commonly LUFS is diagnosed during a series of ultrasound scans.

In women with LUFS, the dominant follicle will grow bigger than usual (up to 4 centimeters). The follicle will undergo the luteinisation process, but it will not rupture during the midcycle to release the mature egg. Progesterone levels will increase as if you have ovulated. Your endometrium will undergo premenstrual changes. In other words, you won’t be able to see any difference in your period. The menstrual flow will be no different from a healthy menstrual cycle. But, obviously, if the egg is not released, and if you have LUFS it is not, pregnancy cannot happen.

There is a clear explanation of why some women get LUFS. The main treatment for it is ovulation induction with hCG hormonal injection or Clomiphene. These treatments are a risk of hyperstimulation syndrome and other side-effects.

Does acupuncture offer a treatment alternative to anovulation?

A recent literature review on acupuncture’s effect on LUFS has been published in the Journal Of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. And if offers a safe and effective alternative. Read more

December 11, 2015/by Roberta Mek

Hyperprolactinemia: reproductive acupuncture holds a promise

acupuncture, prolactinoma

hyperprolactinemia-prolactinoma

Hyperprolactinemia can be a significant obstacle for women trying to get pregnant, and reproductive acupuncture may be one way to address the condition in some women. Previous research has shown that acupuncture influences prolactin levels in women undergoing IVF. We have studies showing acupuncture can reduce prolactin levels (auricular acupuncture using NADA protocol).

This study is interesting because the researchers were looking at natural conception rates, and women who had acupuncture treatment showed a significant difference – they were more fertile. Acupuncture plus standard treatment resulted in 43% pregnancy rate vs 20% of standard treatment alone. Bromocriptine has some nasty side-effects, including dizziness, nausea, confusion, even hallucinations and uncontrolled body movement. Women undergoing acupuncture treatment had a much better response to the drug but also had fewer side-effects.

Obviously, this is a small study; and further research looking into hyperprolactinemia and acupuncture are needed. The abstract of the study is below.

November 21, 2015/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Acupuncture and moxibustion help androgen deficiency

Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion on reproductive endocrine function in male rats with partial androgen deficiency.

Ren Y1, Yang X1, Zhang Y2, Wang Y1, Li X1.
Author information
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM) is characterised by a deficiency in serum androgen levels. Both electroacupuncture (EA) and mild moxibustion (MM) can raise serum testosterone levels in PADAM. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the use of EA and MM in a rodent model of PADAM. Read more

October 27, 2015/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Can acupuncture help 35+ year old pregnant women reduce pregnancy risks

acupuncture, advanced maternal age

Can acupuncture help 35+ year old pregnant women reduce pregnancy risks?

Women of this age, are a high risk for developing stillbirth and fetal growth restriction among other complications.

This study, published in Journal of Physiology, researchers from the University of Manchester, UK concluded that the blood flow to placenta may be the reason for increased risks. Acupuncture increases the blood flow to uterus. Use acupuncture in pregnancy as a preventative measure to reduce the risks for the developing baby.

February 7, 2015/by Vitalis Skiauteris

PCOS: acupuncture normalises ovarian volume and AMH

acupuncture, female infertility, polycystic ovaries

Acupuncture helps to normalise both ovarian volume and AMH in PCOS patients. These changes are beneficial for fertility.

Both acupuncture and exercise help to normalise overactive sympathetic nervous system in PCOS patients. Acupuncture, however, is much more effective. Furthermore, as shown by this study, exercise has no effect on AMH nor ovarian volume.

January 15, 2015/by Vitalis Skiauteris

PCOS insulin resistance – Acupuncture can help

acupuncture, polycystic ovaries

PCOS can improve with acupuncture treatment. More research looks into the mechanism of it. One of the lead researchers in PCOS and acupuncture Dr Elisabet Stener-Victorin from Sweden has long suspected that acupuncture may play a role in regulating blood glucose levels and helping with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is one of the features of PCOS. This study put the theory to test.

The study revealed acupuncture increases whole-body glucose uptake during and after stimulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. See the abstract and a full text of the study below.

January 14, 2015/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Chinese medicine for uterine fibroids

Chinese herbs, Chinese medicine, uterine-fibroids

Chinese Herbs for Uterine Fibroids

What if I told you that there was an ancient Chinese secret that could potentially aid in the battle against uterine fibroids? For many women who have experienced fibroids, a common solution is often the surgical removal of these benign growths, particularly if they obstruct the chances of embryo implantation. But what if surgery is not the desired option? Enter the intriguing world of Chinese fertility herbs.

The Guizhi Fuling Formula, a renowned herbal concoction from China, has recently garnered the attention of researchers for its potential benefits in treating uterine fibroids.

December 24, 2014/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Acupuncture improves receptivity of endometrial lining in IVF Frozen Embryo Transfer

acupuncture, endometriosis, hydrosalpinx, infertility, IVF, polycystic ovaries

IVF Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) patients benefit from Acupuncture. This helps us understand how Acupuncture benefits fertility.

Electro stimulation on acupuncture points leading to the IVF transfer improves the quality/receptivity of the uterine lining. A study published in the latest issue of peer-reviewed British Medical Journal (Acupuncture in Medicine) found the rates of embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were higher in patients who received acupuncture leading to the transfer. They also found significant measurable changes in the endometrium (uterine lining):

Acupuncture improved the chances of triple-line pattern endometrial lining. It has been shown in studies that triple-line pattern is associated with good IVF outcome.
Endometrial perfusion (blood supply to the uterine lining) is an important factor in the process of implantation. The study found greater endometrial and subendometrial vascularisation following a series of acupuncture treatments leading to embryo transfer.
Acupuncture improved HOXA10 expression. Higher HOXA10 is associated with greater endometrial receptivity and good pregnancy outcomes. HOXA10 expression is lower in the uteri of women with hydrosalpinx, PCOS, and endometriosis.

How much acupuncture should you have to see those enhancements to your fertility? Women in this study had six acupuncture sessions per cycle for three menstrual cycles.

See the abstract of the study below. Read more

October 15, 2014/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Stress reduces sperm quality, is acupuncture the answer?

acupuncture, male fertility

Stress sperm acupuncture Impact of stress on female infertility and pregnancy has been well documented. Below study, published in the journal of Fertility and Sterility, shows male reproductive health is similarly affected by it. The researchers are confident the correlation between stress and sperm parameters is clear.

Acupuncture has been shown to improve sperm quality, it has also been shown to help with stress. Researchers at the Georgetown University Medical Center have shown that acupuncture interferes with the very mechanism of stress.

Effects of work and life stress on semen quality

August 1, 2014/by Vitalis Skiauteris

Embryo implantation failure – acupuncture increases number of implanted embryos

acupuncture, infertility

embryo-implantation Successful implantation is an absolute prerequisite for a successful pregnancy. The process by which a blastocyst is accepted by endometrium is involved and requires an interplay of many systems.

The researchers of this study have discovered acupuncture can optimise this subtle uterine environment by modulating cytokines, and therefore it can increase the implantation rate.

February 23, 2014/by Vitalis Skiauteris