Combining Acupuncture With Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Acupuncture is increasingly being used as an adjunct to modern fertility treatments. Preparation for IVF is best begun a few months prior to implantation in order to make the uterus as receptive as possible. However, treatment just a few weeks beforehand could also make a difference.
A number of studies have been conducted showing that combining acupuncture with IVF significantly increases the chances of success. Two areas have been looked at
General acupuncture based on individual diagnosis for several weeks before ART:
• In various studies, it has been found that acupuncture can affect hormones such as oestrogens, progesterone, LH, FSH, GnRH, cortisol and prolactin.
• A regulatory effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian-adrenal axis has also been found.
• A systematic review published in the British Medical Journal in February 2008 concluded that when combined with IVF, “acupuncture increased the odds of clinical pregnancy by 65%". To read this report in full, click here.
• The NHS News website concluded that this "systematic review is the strongest research method because it reduces the possibility that the effects are due to bias or chance. Complementary medicine needs more reviews like this". To read their report, click here.
Set protocols performed just before and after egg re-implantation:
• Several studies have shown an increase in successful outcomes to ART using acupuncture around the time of embryo transfer.
• The most well known of these was published In the American Society for Reproductive Medicine magazine Fertility and Sterility Vol. 77 No.4, April 2002 2002 and resulted in the creation of what is commonly referred to as the Paulus protocol
The Paulus Protocol
In 2002 Paulus et al published a paper called
patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy"
In a prospective randomized study of 160 patients, pregnancies were documented in 42.5% (34 of 80 patients) in the acupuncture group, whereas the pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 of 80 patients) in the group who received no acupuncture.
Basically, this means that by combining acupuncture with IVF you are increasing your chance of success by just about 50%!
To read what the BBC said about this, click here.
The Paulus Protocolis as follows
• A small number of set points are needled on the body and ear the day before re-implantation of the fertilised egg
• Small ‘ear seeds’ – mustard seeds on surgical tape – are placed over acupuncture points on the ear and are squeezed during transfer to stimulate the uterus
• Between one and three days after a different set of body and ear points are needled
• New ear seeds inserted and manipulated by the woman for the following three days
After conception no further treatment is required unless there is an obvious condition to be treated. Drug therapy should be avoided as far as possible whilst pregnant, as many drugs cross the placental wall. Conditions such as cystitis, hay fever, asthma,urinary tract infection (UTI, sciatica and backache can be controlled by acupuncture during pregnancy, thus avoiding the need for conventional medication.
“I feel extremely lucky to have found Paul. I embarked on acupuncture treatment with him 4 weeks before my IVF treatment and it paid off! I'm now 8 weeks pregnant.
I'm in no doubt that Paul and his treatment were instrumental in the success of my IVF.”
Fiona, 37
acupuncture and herbs will enable you to fall pregnant.
