Fertility
While fertility issues can be stressful, confusing and exhausting, Chinese Medicine can help with both the emotional and physical challenges. It is used to treat many causes of infertility including:
- Unexplained Infertility
- Anovulation after hormonal birth control
- Thin uterine lining
- Low Sperm count
- PCOS
- Poor Egg quality
- Recurrent Miscarriage
I also use acupuncture to support patients going through IVF/IUI or other ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies).
Acupuncture improves your chances of success by:
- Increasing blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
- Restoring hormonal balance
- Regulating menstrual cycles
- Improving sperm count, motility and morphology
- Improving egg quality
- Reducing stress
- Building inner calm and well-being
- Support you wherever you are in the process – whether you are trying to get pregnant naturally or you are preparing for an IVF cycle. Acupuncture can help no matter what stage you are in!
- Determine the root cause of your infertility. (Yes we can do this even if you have been diagnosed with “Unexplained Infertility”)
- Support both your physical and emotional health. I know from personal experience just how hard it can be to deal with infertility. (See my story here).
- Offer nutritional guidance and recommend lifestyle changes that will enhance your fertility. (Sometimes the fix is actually fairly simple!)
- Help you to determine the next best steps for you to take on this journey.
Patients usually see the best results from acupuncture treatments for fertility when they commit to getting regular treatments for at least 3 months. This ideally means coming once or twice per week.
Part of the reason for the 3 month time frame is that the eggs you are developing today in your ovaries will not be released until 3 months from now. It’s like they are “cooking” for 3 months. During that time everything that you do will influence the quality of those eggs and acupuncture can improve the quality. And the better your eggs are the more likely you are to get pregnant and have a healthy baby!
Depending on your situation it can sometimes take 6-9 months of regular treatment to get you into your optimal fertile state. For example, some women who have been on the pill for a long time do not get a regular cycle back after they stop taking it. These women first have to get their hormones regulated again so that they are having a normal menstrual cycle and ovulating. (If you don’t ovulate you can’t get pregnant!)
Once the cycle is restored many women will often get pregnant on their own without further intervention. But if that does not happen, then we move on to address any other issues that are getting in the way of conception.
Health Insurance companies often only cover treatment of pain. Infertility is generally not covered. Contact your insurance company to find out the details of your coverage.
Hormonal Balance
Have you suffered from any of the following?
- Painful periods
- Excessive menstrual bleeding
- Debilitating pain during ovulation
- PMS
- Irregular Periods
- No ovulation after birth control
- Lack of a period after birth control
- Perimenopause/Menopause Symptoms
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
- Ovarian cysts
For centuries acupuncturists have been helping women, young and old, to find relief from all of these issues and more. Acupuncture rebalances your hormone function, restores a regular menstrual cycle, relieves pain and treats the source of the problem. Women who use acupuncture are very often able to avoid hormonal and surgical interventions. Call me today to find out how I can help you to feel better!
Pregnancy and Postpartum Care
Now that you are pregnant you will want to support yourself through all of the upcoming changes. Even a healthy pregnancy often brings its own set of bothersome symptoms. I have helped women get relief from many pregnancy related conditions like:
- Morning sickness and nausea
- Back and hip pain (sciatica)
- Fatigue
- Gallbladder pain
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Swelling and edema
- Breech babies
- Threatened miscarriage
- Hemorrhoids
Acupuncture will also help you to prepare for labor. It helps ease stress and anxiety as the due date approaches so that mom is as calm and relaxed as possible going into delivery. Beginning this process about a month before delivery can ensure a smooth and efficient labor.
After delivery, treatment helps your body and mind to recover fully from the changes you have been through. And they are huge! Many women don’t just “bounce back” right away. It takes time and attention to restore your energy and strength, adjust to your new life with a baby and stay emotionally grounded through it all.
Acupuncture can help with:
- Postpartum depression
- Persistent uterine bleeding
- Vaginal pain
- Breastfeeding problems like insufficient lactation and mastitis.