Acupuncture for IVF Support

Written by The Blue Heron Clinic

Supporting women's fertililty during In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves adding a man's sperm to his female partners eggs in a laboratory environment in an attempt to produce viable embryos. In vitro fertilization is an option for many couples who can't get pregnant via natural means or other conventional medical therapies. Fertilized embryos are implanted into the female partner's uterus (womb) after 3 to 5 days of incubation. There are two types of artificial insemination procedure these are:

This involves manipulating the menstrual cycle in an attempt to persuade the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. In the menstrual cycle prior to any IVF procedure the woman is given down regulatiing fertility drugs which prevent the pituary gland from functioning and intefering with the effects of stimulatory drugs.  Once the period arrived and a blood test shows hormone levels are low enough, fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries can be given.  Approximately 2 weeks after beginging stimulatory drugs, follicles and eggs should be large enough for harvesting.  A trigger injection of hGC which provokes ovulation is given at this stage to prepare the folicles to release the eggs.  Befor egg release occurs your fertility doctor will extract the eggs from the folicles via syringe.

Short Protocol IVF

The short IVF protocol takes approximately four weeks as opposed to about six in the long version, treatment is synchronized to the woman's menstrual cycle and involves less of the initial ovary suppression drug.

Acupuncture Benefits for IVF?

An increasing number of fertility specialists and centers offer acupuncture as a part of their IVF protocol. Limited but supportive evidence from clinical trials and case series suggests that acupuncture may improve the success rate of IVF and the quality of life of patients undergoing IVF and that it is a safe adjunct therapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal found that complementing the embryo transfer process with acupuncture was associated with significant and clinically relevant improvements in clinical pregnancy (where the expected number of patients needed to be treated to produce 1 additional pregnancy was, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth.

Four mechanisms by which it has been suggested that acupuncture may improve IVF outcomes are:

• Neuroendocrinological modulations
• Increased blood flow to uterus and ovaries
• Modulation in cytokines
• Reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression

John Lally, Acupuncturist and Clinic director at the Blue Heron Clinic recommends women undergoing IVF receive weekly acupuncture treatment  have a positive effect on menstruation and ovulation while also increasing blood flow to the uterus allowing for a thicker, healthier uterine lining which increases chances of conception after embryo transfer and implantation.

The In Vitro Fertilization Process How it works

 In vitro fertilization (IVF) requires the forced production of follicles and eggs through artificial ovulatory stimulation which helps provide multiple follicles and eggs rather than just one in the case of a woman's normal menstrual cycle. The mature eggs are removed from the ovaries therefore avoiding any issues with egg movement in the fallopian tubes.

By using select male sperm and harvested whileand carefully culturing bothin a lab, any issues that might be encountered in the natural process are bypassed. After culturing the embryos for several days, the highest quality of the fertilized eggs are chosen for implantation which improves the chances of a successful pregnancy. The fertilized embryos are then transferred to the ideal location within the uterus, which means that any risk involved with tubal transport is removed.

 Conditions Treated with Assisted Reproduction Therapy

 Fallopian Tube Damage - Fallopian tube damage usually results from inflammation of the fallopian tube (salpingitis). Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, is the most frequent cause. Tubal inflammation may go unnoticed or may cause pain and fever. Tubal damage may result in a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg is unable to make its way through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). One episode of tubal infection may cause fertility difficulties. The risk of ectopic pregnancy increases with each occurrence of tubal infection.

Endometriosos  - This occurs when the uterine tissue implants and grows outside of the uterus — often affecting the function of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes. These implants respond to the hormonal cycle and grow, shed and bleed in sync with the lining of the uterus each month, which can lead to scarring and inflammation. Pelvic pain and infertility are common in women with this issue.

Poly Cyctic Ovarian Syndrome - In PCOS, your body produces too much androgen hormone, which affects ovulation. PCOS is also associated with insulin resistance and obesity.

Pelvic Adhesions - This refers to scarring or tissue repair that occurs anywhere in the pelvic region of the body. These adhesions form as the first step in the healing process after any surgery, trauma, infection, or inflammation.

Male infertility Factor such as Low Sperm Counts - Low sperm count is a condition referred to as oligospermia. Causes include genetics, obeseity, smoking, frequent intercourse and alcohol consumption.

Fertility Drugs

As with any assisted reproductive therapy, your fertility specialist wil often prescribe fertiltiy drugs for varioius reasons. See below for a list of common fertiltiy medications:

• Clomiphene  - Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is the most commonly used fertility drug due to it's is easy use and effectiveness in stimulating ovulation 80% of the time
• Gonal-f - Follistim and Gonal-F are fertility drugs which mimic the hormone FSH. These drugs are taken via self injection, and may be used in conjunction with IVF, IUI treatment, or with timed sexual intercourse.
• (GnRH) antagonist: Antagon - These drugs are used to stop the ovulaton during long cycle IVF so that the body does not produce eggs which may be lost befor harvesting for fertilization and implantation.
• Heparin: Hep-Lock; Liquaemin - This blood thinner lowers the risk of miscarriage for women with blood-clotting disorders that are linked to recurrent pregnancy termination.
• Human Menopausal Gonadotropin: Pergonal; Repronex; Menopur - This injectable combination of LH and FSH is designed to either induce ovulation in women who don't ovulate (or do so rarely), or, in women who are ovulating.
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): Pregnyl; Profasi; Novarel - hCG is a hormone which assists to stimulate female egg maturation and release from the follicle.