Fertility

Fertility is an area of interest at ReachHealth and we have supported many women and couples through the fertility journey. By combining Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, diet, and lifestyle changes we aim to get your body to optimum health. We tailor a treatment plan based upon the stage you are at in your journey, whether that be preparing the body to conceive, trying to conceive naturally, or undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology such as IUI or IVF.

 

IVF ACUPUNCTURE: RESEARCH

Research into the efficacy of acupuncture for IVF is an evolving area with a number of positive clinical trials published. A 2015 review found acupuncture to be effective when used on the day of IVF transfer (2).

 

A 2016 systematic review by Qian et al showed that “Based on an analysis of the studies, acupuncture improves the clinical pregnancy rate among women undergoing IVF” (3).

 

This is promising, as earlier systematic reviews found that evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture used to support IVF or other assisted reproductive technology was “unclear” (1).

 

Chinese Medicine Approach to Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of immense physical and emotional change. It’s also a time when it’s more important than ever to support and care for your health. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine may help you meet the unique
challenges of pregnancy including as:
 

• Pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pains; and

• Nausea and vomiting.

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Chinese medicine is a system of medicine developed in China that has a different history and approach than Western medicine. Rather than treating disease, a Chinese medicine practitioner treats patterns of disharmony (or symptom clusters) in a patient. Acupuncture is generally considered to be safe but occasionally (as with all health treatments) may be associated with possible adverse reactions in individual cases.

 

Treatment

For a healthy pregnancy, we recommend treatment once a month with weekly treatments from 36 weeks. However, we will work with you and tailor a program specifically based on your needs.

 

Post Partum

In Chinese Medicine, the postpartum period is the watershed in women’s health. With appropriate care, a woman can build a solid foundation to tackle the demands of motherhood. Acupuncture can help you heal and regain your strength and vitality, as well as rebalance your energy.

 

References:

(1) McDonald, John & Janz, Stephen. (2016). The Acupuncture Evidence Project: A Comparative Literature Review (Revised). Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association Ltd, Coorparoo

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24854767/

(3)Qian Y et al, 2016  Arch Gynecol Obstet Dec p 1-16 Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics