There are 7 key stages of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) / In Vitro Fertility (IVF):
1. Pre-treatment phase (up to 3 – 6 months before ART or IVF cycle begins) 1 acupuncture session a weekly is advised.
Did you know that follicles take around 360 days to develop from their dormant stage to the ovulatory phase? During this preparation phase acupuncture may improve the follicular development by increasing blood flow to the ovaries, especially if regular acupuncture is administered in the 190 days prior to ovulation/ egg retrieval. This phase is also an important time to make any necessary lifestyle changes or treat any underlying deficiencies, screen the system for underlying, contributing factors, check blood labs for iron, thyroid, and auto- immune and address these with medication, diet or herbal protocols. It may also give time to treat underlying diseases like endometriosis, PCOS or male factor infertility.
2. Pre-treatment phase (up to 3 weeks before ART/IVF begins) 2 sessions a week.
During pre-treatment phase acupuncture can help reduce a woman’s stress levels and relieve some side effects of medication, it may help to recruit more follicles for the treatment cycle.
3. Ovarian stimulation phase time the session of acupuncture as close to injections 2 – 3 times per week.
This is the time when woman inject a high dose of FSH in order to produce more than one egg. We believe acupuncture may enhance the ovarian response to medication. Acupuncture can also help with endometrial lining development during this phase.
4. Ovulation trigger and final egg Maturation, 1 timed acupuncture session after the trigger shot.
When women inject the “trigger shot” this forces the follicles to grow further and the eggs within them to mature. Administering acupuncture treatment between the trigger injection and the egg retrieval procedure helps with the final egg maturation, and therefore more mature eggs can potentially be retrieved.
5. Egg Retrieval – after the procedure 1 session.
Research suggests that acupuncture can be used as an effective pain – relieving method during the egg retrieval process.
6. Embryo Transfer (ET), 1 session before and after on the day of ET.
Acupuncture around the time of ET helps to increase success rates of IVF.
7. Luteal Phase and early pregnancy, 1 – 2 sessions per week.
Stress levels are probably at their highest in patients waiting the dreaded 2 week wait. Therefore acupuncture and emotional support are extremely important during this stage. In addition using pregnancy supporting points may help prevent miscarriage.