Specialist Fertility Acupuncturist or General Acupuncturist?

There is a huge difference between a regular acupuncturist and someone who has chosen to dive deeply into fertility acupuncture. I would hope that all degree-level trained acupuncturists are capable of treating to improve a menstrual cycle, but as a fertility specialist I am able to bring so much more knowledge and experience into the clinic space with me. This depth of additional knowledge means that I am able to really work with you to help guide you through the maze of information and options being presented to you. On my client list I frequently have other acupuncturists, GPs and other medics.

Extensive Specialist Training in the use of Acupuncture to Support Fertility and IVF

My training with Naava Carman has been incredibly enriching, she has a wonderfully integrated approach to fertility acupuncture which has taught me how much useful information can be gleaned from standard fertility tests, information that I can use to help me to guide acupuncture treatment and to advise you on lifestyle and diet tips that will benefit you. You are more likely to hear me asking about your AMH, LH, FSH, Progesterone or Thyroid levels than you are to hear me talk of Liver Qi Stagnation or Spleen Qi Deficiency, and I have a sound working knowledge of assisted fertility options such as IUI, IVF, ICSI, FET, 'egg-banking', PCOS, OHSS and Endometriosis.

Here is a list of some of the fertility and pregnancy specific post-graduate training I have had:

• Advanced Level Diploma in Fertility Acupuncture (Naava Carman)

• Spermageddon (Dr Olivia Pojer)

• Acupuncture tor Fertility & IVF (Paul Johnson)

• Understanding Endometriosis & PCOS (Jill Glover)

• Acupuncture & Acupressure for Pregnancy & Childbirth (Debra Betts)

• Fat Positive Fertiliey (Nicola Salmon)

• The Reproductive Microbiome (Leah Hetchman)

Empathy & Understanding, and a Personal Perspective

I have a particular empathy for people struggling with fertility issues as I have experienced endometriosis, PCOS and unexplained infertility first hand and been through IUI and IVF. This is reflected in the passion and drive I bring to my clinic, to me this is far more than just a job - this is personal!

If you have any of the following symptoms it suggests that your menstrual cycle is out of kilter and you would benefit from a course of fertility acupuncture:

• heavy periods or if the bleed lasts a long time

• passing clots during bleed

• very painful periods

• very light, scanty bleed, watery bleed or particularly short bleed (1-2 days)

• a short cycle - less than 24 days

• irregular periods

• absence of stringy cervical mucus during ovulation phase

• if you think you are not, or have been told you are not ovulating

• if your lower abdomen feels cold when you rest a hand on it

A healthier, more vibrant cycle encourages conception and pregnancy; acupuncture has a long history of being used to balance and energise a cycle and improve fertility.

If you have any further questions, please contact me and I will do my best to answer you.

For Best Results - Weekly Appointments

For the first month it is best to have treatment at weekly intervals to give me a chance to treat you at every phase of the cycle. Depending on how your cycle responds, it may be possible to reduce this for subsequent months if one aspect of the cycle needs more support than another.

Play the Long Game

You should be prepared to commit to 3 months of treatment to give acupuncture a chance to work. By the end of 3 months the eggs that are ready to mature in the following cycle would have had a chance to benefit from acupuncture for most of their growing cycle, the hormone balance should be considerably better and your overall health and vitality should be very good. From my records I can see that clients who commit to weekly treatments have a much, much higher success rate than clients who dip in and out. It is not unusual for a client to conceive before they have finished the recommended three months of fertility acupuncture!

When in the Cycle is it Best to Start?

New patients can time their first treatment to coincide with the beginning of their bleed, or come for the introductory appointment at any point in the cycle and we will pick up from there.

Out of Hours Options

To help accommodate clients who have busy diaries, I offer a range of out of hours appointments - in the City I am available until 8pm on Mondays and Thursdays, in Danbury I offer Saturday appointments as well as midweek evening appointments.

Unexplained Infertility or SubFertility?

Typically a doctor diagnoses someone with 'unexplained infertility' after a year of trying and failing to conceive if there are no structural or measurable reasons for failing to conceive. The term infertility is a very difficult one to hear, and particularly frustrating if you have been told that there is no medical reason for the fertility problems you are having - and if Western medicine can't explain your infertility, the only solution offered is likelly to be to 'keep trying' or to consider IVF.

But for many couples the 'infertile' is a poor choice of word, especially as for so many it would be better to use the term subfertile. There is so much that can be done by way of diet, lifestyle and acupuncture to help someone to move into a more fertile state, but for so many people the awfulness of the word 'infertility' takes all the wind out of their sails.

Fertility Acupuncture - Health Boosting, Fertility Boosting

Chinese acupuncture has a different perspective on fertility issues, we use different diagnostic methods and treat with massage, needles and moxa to encourage the body to want to move towards a more fertile state; thousands of years of knowledge and experience form the basis of our approach which can often mean success against all the odds. The majority of patients who come to me with 'unexplained infertility' are able to conceive within a few months of regular treatment; while there is no way to guarantee success, it is definitely a good idea to have some acupuncture to improve your chances of conceiving.

And What If Acupuncture Isn't Enough?

If you give your own natural fertility a chance but it is still not working, then it really may be time to consider assisted fertility. If you are working with me, the time spent with me before this point is a fantastic preparation for IVF and you would be ready to dive straight in. Research shows that 2-3 months of fertility acupuncture prior to IVF can significantly improve your chances of having a successful cycle.

And What if IVF is Already In the Diary?

As explained above, fertility acupuncture for a few cycles prior to IVF can really help the whole process, Fertility acupuncture can help to improve the circulation to your ovaries and uterus so they are in a better position to respond well to the fertility drugs, it can help improve your sleep, digestion and immune system to put you in a stronger position to cope physically with the demands of IVF, and it can help support you emotionally so you can start IVF feeling a little less afraid and a lot more knowledgeable. In my opinion, it is definitely worth extending the pre-IVF acupuncture treatment to three full months to see whether you would be able to conceive without the help of IVF. To me there is nothing more rewarding than helping someone to avoid IVF!

If you have any further questions, please contact me and I will do my best to answer.

Almost without exception there will be improvements in the cycle, some people may notice a significant change to the premenstrual phase and the bleed phase of the cycle, there may be noticeable improvements to sleep and digestion and your stress level should settle down.

If you are not ovulating and your cycle is being monitored, you should start to ovulate after a month or two of regular acupuncture.

If your sleep or digestion are problematic, you should see improvements - if not, we may need to work with a functional nutritionist to dive a bit deeper.

And the best way to see it is working is to get that positive pregnancy test result!

Yes, most definitely! IVF is the process of fertilising the egg under laboratory conditions, but your chances of a successful pregnancy will be strongly influenced by your underlying health and wellness. A course of acupuncture prior to IVF has been shown in various studies to improve your chances of maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Eggs take at least 150 days to mature, so coming for acupuncture for a few months before IVF means that the eggs maturing in the IVF cycle will have had the best possible start, the blood and energy circulation to the uterus would be improved and you would be able to cope better with the stress of IVF.

(and though people always doubt it when they come for their initial appointment, in some cases it is possible to fall pregnant while preparing for IVF with acupuncture . . . )

I cannot promise that you will fall pregnant, but I can help your body to fall into a better, healthier cycle which should make pregnancy more possible. Acupuncture is deeply rooted in the rhythms and cycles of life which makes it a really effective therapy for menstrual issues. A course of acupuncture treatment for fertility issues can make significant improvements to the cycle, encouraging ovulation, promoting a thicker, healthier endometrium and improving the energy and circulation of the whole lower abdomen which can make it easier for your body to fall pregnant and to maintain that pregnancy.

There is a prescription drug commonly used to encourage ovulation, but although it statistically raises your chances of ovulating, these statistics are not as good for the chances of falling pregnant while taking it. This is because for a significant number of women, it interferes with the production of cervical mucus so essentially makes your body less prone to impregnation. The cervical mucus acts as an inverted fireman's pole, providing sperm with a quick, safe route through the cervix - if there is less cervical mucus, the sperm have to work a lot harder to reach the egg.

Acupuncture encourages both ovulation and the production of cervical mucus, so if you have failed to fall pregnant while taking medication to promote ovulation, you may find you are in a better position with fertility acupuncture.

Many clients who come for fertility acupuncture have not had acupuncture before, so you are not alone! I use very fine, pre-sterilised, single use needles and I work as gently as possible. If you are particularly needle sensitive, I can scale the needle size down even further and use as few needles as I can without compromising treatment.

The vast majority of patients really love how acupuncture makes them feel, for many it induces a state of deep relaxation and calm that can last for days after treatment.

There is a particular energetic quality to each phase of the cycle and the point locations are chosen to reflect this. Although the points chosen for any particular treatment will be influenced my many different things, the essential underlying sense is to generate a treatment that resonates with the current energetic phase of the cycle. It is like holding a tuning fork to the system, gently suggesting correct vibration to the cacophony of hormones and energies. If all goes well, the body listens, and gently falls into step.

The Bleed Phase

• The first stage of the cycle is the bleed phase, during this phase I may use points to help the body to control excessive bleeding or to smooth the flow, ease pain and cramping and calm the mind. Spleen 8 is a good point for moderating Blood flow.

The Follicular Phase (before ovulation)

• The second stage of the cycle is the follicular ripening phase, the growth of Yin energy which ripened the follicle. I would concentrate on points that nourish blood and Yin. Kidney 3 is a good point to use during this phase, which nourishes Kidney Yin energy that is so important to mature healthy eggs..

Ovulation

• The third stage of the cycle is around ovulation, the point at which Yin transforms into Yang. It is important at this phase to use points to support energy in the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and to encourage Qi to move in the abdomen, encouraging the fallopian tubes to collect the egg and move it down to the uterus. Zi Gong is a fantastic point to use at this stage as it helps to regulate energy in the ovaries and fallopian tubes

The Luteal Phase (after ovulation)

• The fourth stage is the luteal phase, the Yang half of the cycle. Points used in this phase are more dynamic, encouraging the Yang energy to build to maintain a strong luteal phase. If the abdomen feels cool during this phase I might use an infrared heat lamp over the abdomen to encourage warmth and circulation. One of my favourite points in this phase is Ren 6 which encourages the birth of Yang and has a strong connection to the Heart and the uterus.

Evidence shows that acupuncture can be a useful therapy to use when there is a threatened miscarriage. Some miscarriages are inevitable as the genetic makeup of the embryo means that it cannot grow or develop, but other reasons for miscarriage include hormonal issues, blood supply to the uterus and extreme stress. Acupuncture can help with these aspects and studies have shown it is better than simply waiting to see what happens.

Yes! I am trained in antenatal acupuncture and prebirth acupuncture and frequently continue to see clients the whole way through their pregnancy. It is a gentle, supportive therapy for pregnancy and can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions that would otherwise require medical intervention or drugs.

While many acupuncturists will treat pregnant women after 12 weeks, I have specific post-graduate training in antenatal acupuncture so can confidently treat women from pre-conception through to birth.

If you have had any fertility related blood tests it is really useful to have the results of the tests as they can help determine where in the cycle you need the most support. Most GPs are happy to arrange some of the blood tests for fertility investigations, but some are more reluctant to order tests which can be frustrating.

Medichecks - an independent solution

If you would prefer to arrange for your blood tests privately then Medichecks is a great option. You can opt to have a phlebotomist come to you or go to Broomfield Hospital, but if you have a doctor or nurse friend they can take the blood for you which makes the process cheaper (if you do opt to have a friend take the sample, be aware that it needs to go in the post to get to the lab as soon as possible - so don't do it on a weekend). The results will be made available online.

Useful Tests

Some of the tests that can be useful to see include:

Day 2/3 - FSH, LH, Oestradiol

Day 21 - Progesterone

Prolactin

Androgens - Testosterone, FAI (Free Androgen Index), SHBG

AMH

Vitamin D

Thyroid (TSH, FreeT4, FreeT3, Thyroid antibodies)

It is worth bearing in mind that most GPs will not order an AMH test which checks for Anti-Mullerian Hormone which is often used as an indicator for ovarian reserve or as one of the markers of PCOS. This test is available privately, and through Medichecks.

'Normal' is Not Enough Information!

If you are coming to see me, it is really useful to have the test results as numbers and units rather than simply to be told the results were 'normal'. What is considered normal is not necessarily the same as optimal for fertility!

If you have had a poor sperm test result, do not dispair! Lots of things can impact your test result - if you have had a particularly stressful time over the past 9 weeks, if you have had a cough/cold/virus or been unwell in any way, even if you have recently had a bit of a big night out! It is always risky to determine a sperm issue on the basis of a single test, it is better practice to put into place some dietary and lifestyle changes and then have the sperm re-tested in a few months time.

There are some obvious things that have been shown to make a big difference to subsequent test results, see my quick guide to improving sperm health by clicking here.

• Dietary Changes - clean up your diet, less processed foods, less sugar, less caffeine and less alcohol.

• Avoid foods containing hydrogenated oils and trans-fatty acids as these can decrease motility.

• Choose to eat natural, seasonal food when possible including plenty of fruit and vegetables (particularly dark coloured fruits and vegetables). Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables will increase the levels of antioxidants in your system, this can help to improve sperm quality. Good foods to incorporate into your diet are citrus fruits, kale, broccoli, spinach, sweet potato and avocado.

• Include nuts and seeds in your regime as they contain lots of important micronutrients, brazil nuts, almonds and walnuts are excellent nuts to snack on (a single brazil nut a day contains your daily Selenium requirement!). Buy yourself a pot of mixed seeds to sprinkle on salads, scrambled eggs, porridge or yoghurt to give yourself a nutrition boost

• If you want to take supplements, Selenium, Zinc, Vitamin E and a Vitamin B complex may be worth taking, or get a bottle of Floradix or a good general pre-conception multivit/mineral.

• Lifestyle Changes - wear looser fitting boxers instead of tight pants, avoid very hot baths, saunas, icy plunge pools. Keep your phone away from your front pockets, and avoid resting your tablet or laptop on your lap for long periods of time.

• Acupuncture - a course of acupuncture has also been shown to improve sperm issues in many studies. In trials it has been shown to improve number, morphology and motility of sperm.

Making baby humans can be very difficult, and sometimes it just doesn't happen. Before being drawn down the road of fertility acupuncture, my main area of interest was acupuncture for mental health and I have a lot of experience of supporting people through grief and depression. The journey through fertility issues may be difficult, but it can be more bearable if you have someone to offer the right kind of support and emotional nourishment at a time when words are simply not enough.

If there is a question that I have not covered, please get in touch and I will do my best to answer it. Email me at alex@essexfertility.co.uk, contact me by clicking here or filling in the contact form at the bottom of the website.

Unfortunately we see this a lot.

IVF clinics rarely run a semen analysis to the W.H.O. standards, they often cherry pick the parameters that they report, focusing almost solely on count, motility and morphology. They often fail to report on some of the key parameters that we look at when trying to work out why sperm health maybe subpar - it is rare to see an IVF clinic semen analysis that includes pH, debris, viscosity, aggregation, agglutination, MAR, round cells . . .

I have seen countless couples who have come to me after repeated unsuccessful IVF cycles, only to look at the semen analysis and wonder why on earth they were pushed towards IVF when they obviously should have been pointed towards a male fertility specialist urologist.

As a fertility specialist, this is frustrating - too many women are blaming their eggs, or blaming themselves, because no-one is looking properly at male fertility. In the majority of cases of long term unexplained infertility, we find issues to work on with both partners. If you don't assess both partners carefully, you miss so many opportunities to resolve fertility before you get as far as IVF.