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IVF/IUI/Clomid Cycles

To insure the best possible chance for pregnancy and reduce complications during an IVF/IUI/Clomid cycle, imbalances in the body must be addressed prior to conception. For the best possible outcome, patients should begin treatment sessions 1-2 times per week for at least 3 months prior to any ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) procedure. Nutritional and lifestyle changes should also be incorporated into their daily routine for optimal results. Herbal medicine is often prescribed on an individual basis. If undergoing IVF, 4 weeks of biweekly acupuncture treatments before egg retrieval are strongly recommended. Even just a pre- and post- treatment on the day of an embryo transfer can improve your outcome, however, the earlier you start treatment, the better your outcome. 

Chinese Medicine can help prepare both men and women for ART procedures. Acupuncture has been shown to enhance Western–based reproductive procedures in the following  ways:

• Produce higher quality eggs
• Produce a larger number of follicles
• Increase thickness of the uterine lining
• Regulate hormone levels
• Reduce the side-effects of IVF medications
• Prevent uterine contraction
• Improve sperm count, motility, morphology
• Relax and mitigate stress
• Decrease miscarriage rates

Clinical studies have also demonstrated higher success rates when using acupuncture and herbs in conjunction with IVF and other assisted reproductive techniques. According to a German study (Paulus and Zhang, et al1), the group that received acupuncture before and after embryo transfer showed a 42.5% pregnancy rate, while the in-vitro group without treatment had a 26.3% pregnancy rate. A second study that used the same protocol also found that miscarriage and tubal pregnancy rates were lower in the group that received acupuncture treatments (American Society for Reproductive Medicine, October 2004). Please visit the research page for more research studies involving acupuncture and IVF.