Ever wondered when is the best time to start acupuncture and herbal medicine for fertility? Have you been sitting on the fence not sure if this is the right approach for you? Here are some of the common questions I get asked often in clinic which I hope answers some of questions about utilising acupuncture and Chinese medicine as part of your fertility journey
What should I expect in my first consultation?
You will be asked questions in detail about your menstrual cycle and general well-being. This allows me to see a whole picture of where your body is at from Chinese medicine perspective. I will take a look at your tongue and take your pulse. Tongue and pulse are used in Chinese medicine to inform me about what is going on internally. Then acupuncture is given as part of the consultation and, herbal medicine is prescribed.
What does a course of treatment look like?
Natural conception
Normally it would take a minimum of three months to improve fertility outcomes. However, it all depends on a case by case basis. In general, if your cycle is regular and general health is good, then a minimum of three months is required for pre-conception health. If your cycle is irregular, older in age, highly stressful, poor gut health or there are menstrual issues such as PCOS or Endometriosis it may take up to 6 months for a desirable outcome.
IVF and freezing eggs
Similarly to the above, it is highly recommended to start acupuncture and herbal medicine at least three months prior to starting IVF. While preparing your body for IVF, it is encouraged to continue to try naturally and in some instances, patient do fall pregnant un-expectedly. Regular acupuncture sessions is encouraged while you go through IVF cycles. Each phases of IVF comes with different set of challenges. Acupuncture can address these issues and also improve the outcome. This also applies to women looking into freezing their eggs for future use.
Multiple miscarriages
While miscarriages are heartbreaking and sometimes unexplainable, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can improve the outcome of pregnancy and prevent further miscarriages. By looking at your overall and menstrual health, certain details can be identified according to Chinese medicine diagnosis. Course of treatment can range between three to six months for a positive outcome. I would encourage women that have been through multiple miscarriages to seek treatment as early as possible. The more often this occurs, the weaker the body becomes. Therefore, the more strengthening and re-balancing the body will required to have a successful pregnancy.
PCOS and Endometriosis
Women enduring with PCOS and Endometriosis understands the struggle to menstrual health and the challenge in trying to conceive. Each condition is different and based on individual menstrual condition, different treatment course are advised. In general, PCOS and Endometriosis will need a lot of work to re-balance the body with will take at least six months. If you have mild PCOS or Endometriosis, the course of treatment would be less extensive. However, in my clinical experience, it is challenging to maintain a regular and healthy cycle conducive for pregnancy but not necessarily impossible. It does require patience and time to re-calibrate the body.
Low sperm count and poor quality sperm
Increasingly, low sperm count and poor quality sperm is the cause of failed pregnancies and miscarriages. Sperm health is equally as important as menstrual health. Depending on the degree of the sperm quality and quantity, a minimum of three to six months is needed to improve a positive outcome. I do not often see men in the clinic for this condition however, the few that had come in for treatments has have a positive outcome. It goes to show that by encouraging men to take responsibility in their health, and to seek help when there is an issue early on can make the fertility journey less challenging and heartbreaking.
Can I just do acupuncture without herbal medicine?
My recommendation is to do both acupuncture and herbal medicine together. In my clinical experience, having both modality yields better result. However, there are circumstances that only acupuncture is recommended for example if you are on a long list of supplements and medications from your doctor has prescribed and, you are currently undergoing IVF (generally specialist would not recommend any herbal medicine during IVF to minimise any interactions with the drugs prescribed). My approach is not to overload the body with too many herbs, medications and supplements.
Is Chinese herbal medicine safe to use?
Yes it is. The powdered herbs I use in my clinic have been tested for toxicity and it is a well-known brand from Taiwan that have been providing powdered herbs for many years. It is also approved by the Therapeutic Goods of Australia (TGA). Initially you may find the taste a bit ‘interesting’ but you do get used to the taste after a few rounds of it. I used powdered herbs in my clinic which makes it convenient to adapt into your lifestyle. It is as simple as adding hot water to a couple of teaspoons of powdered herbs.
Is acupuncture painful?
Head to this link on what to expect for acupuncture
Why a course of treatment takes between three to six months or longer?
It takes time. Depending on your menstrual and general health, it takes time to re-balance, replenish and strengthen your body to hold and carry your pregnancy to term. I work on regulating your cycle, making sure that the consistency of blood is good, the amount of bleed is neither too heavy of light etc. If the issue is with the sperm, I work on increasing the quantity, morphology and motility of the sperm. In addition, treatments are also aimed at reducing stress, optimising your digestive and gut function and improve your energy and quality of sleep. All of these parameters have a role to play in having a positive and successful pregnancy. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” - Lao Tzu
How would know it is benefiting me?
You will start to noticed that you are less stressful, sleeping more soundly, improvements in gut and digestive health, regulated cycles with good quality and quantity of blood, increase in cervical mucous (stretchy egg white mucous that indicates ovulation) less pre-menstrual symptoms, cramps etc. All these changes are tell-tale signs that the body is re-calibrating and improving the chances of falling pregnant.
What happens after I fall pregnant?
This would be a wonderful outcome and a new journey begins. Acupuncture and herbal medicine is still encouraged after a positive result with treatments now geared towards securing and supporting the pregnancy. As you go through each week of the pregnancy, acupuncture and herbal medicine can assist in symptoms that may arise during pregnancy such as nausea, lower back pain, spotting etc. As the week advances, everything from your blood test to scans showing the baby is growing strongly and, most importantly you feel confident with the pregnancy, treatments are no longer needed. However, during the course of your pregnancy if you feel that you need support, I am here to assist you whenever you need it.
When should I start?
My recommendation is to start as soon as possible if you know you are wanting to start a family or have been struggling to fall pregnant. Simply book online for an initial consultation today and we will begin your fertility journey.