SUMMARY

The Healing Point, through its team of professionally qualified and experienced practitioners, enhances and supports all aspects of pre-conception and pregnancy.

ACUPUNCTURE can help with the following:

IVF assistance, Induction, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, incorrect positioning of the feotus, constipation, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, urinary tract infections, musculoskeletal conditions, fatigue, anaemia, insomnia, anxiety and depression, itching, sinusitis, hypertension, oedema, small-for-date babies, breech and posterior positions.

OSTEOPATHY can help with the following:

Lower back pain and sciatica, aching legs and feet, numbness and tingling in the hands, neck shoulder or middle back pain, shortness of breath, incorrect positioning of the foetus, poor sleep, fertility.

Using Traditional Chinese Medicine before deciding to use IVF

Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) can also be used to increase fertility before resorting to IVF if there are intact fallopian tubes and the sperm is healthy and individual treatment plans combining both acupuncture and traditional herbs can be created.

IVF

TREATMENT FOR WOMEN DOING IVF

Acupuncture prior to embryo transfer, based on clinical trials, can increase pregnancy rates by 65% and involves a series of treatments to prepare and settle the body in preparation for the IVF process.

Acupuncture before and during the medication phase of IVF requires 2 treatments per week for 4 weeks and increases the blood supply to the uterus and ovaries as well as promoting regulation of hormones important in follicle development and implantation.

Acupuncture at any phase of IVF, consisting of 1-2 treatments per week, can manage the side effects of fatigue, moodiness, abdomen swelling and discomfort, greater relaxation and control of anxiety.

Acupuncture after egg collection will involve 1 treatment within 2 days of the procedure to reduce local tissue trauma or bleeding and prepare a calm environment for the arrival of an embryo.

Acupuncture for frozen embryo transfer, with or without medication, will need 2 treatments a week for 2-4 weeks before embryo transfer plus a treatment on the day of the transfer.

Acupuncture during the first few weeks of pregnancy has been demonstrated to have significant immune-modulating effects reducing the risk of rejection and to enhance microcirculation in the uterine lining and newly developing placenta particularly important if there is a tendency to produce clotting. A series of treatments per week until week 12 is recommended.

Pre birth acupuncture consists of 1 treatment per week from 36 weeks reduces the overdue rate and encourages cervical ripening and shortened labour time.

ACUPUNCTURE FOR MEN DURING IVF

Men can also benefit from acupuncture in preparation for the IVF process by completing 2 treatments a week, 5-6 weeks prior to IVF so that sperm mobility can be increased and abnormal forms of sperm can be decreased.

Acupuncture for TESE candidates during clinical trials proved that 50% had enough viable sperm to avoid TESE procedures. 2 treatments a week before IVF is recommended.

Acupuncture on the day of sperm donation can increase blood flow and reduce anxiety.

References
1. Jansen, R. (1999). Transmission of the mitochondrial genome [Abstract]. R. Jansen, & D. Mortimer (Eds.), Towards Reproductive Certainty: The plenary proceedings of the 11 th world congress on In Vitro Fertilisation & human reproductive genetics (p.333). New York: Parthenon publishing group.
2. Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 77, No. 4, April 2002.
3. Acupuncture Treatment for Infertile Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection, Emmons, S., Patton, P. Medical Acupuncture, Spring/Summer 2000- Volume 12 /Number 2.

German researchers call for clinical trials of menstrual cycle monitors used for natural family planning” (2003). Human Reproduction.18 (12), 2628-33.

References

Sinclair, S. (2002). Male infertility: nutritional and environmental considerations. Alternative medicine review: Journal of clinical therapeutic, 5(1), 28-38.
Cramer, D. W., Walker, A. M., Schiff, I. (1979). Statistical methods in evaluating the outcome of infertility therapy. Infertility and sterility, 32(1), 80-86.
Khalaf, Y. (2003). ABC of sub fertility. Tubal Sub Fertility. British medical Journal 7415, 610
Hamilton-Fairley, D., Taylor, A. (2003).ABC of sub fertility. Anovulation. British medical Journal 7414, 546
Hart. R. (2003). ABC of sub fertility. Unexplained infertility, endometriosis and fibroids. British medical Journal 7417, 721-724
Taylor, A. (2003). ABC of sub fertility. Extent of the problem. British medical Journal 7412, 434-436.
Qiang G. Z. (1995). Infertility.European Journal of Oriental medicine, 1(5), 22-33
Liang, H., May, B. Male Infertility: 16 cases of severe azoospermia treated with Bu Shen Yi Jing Fang. Pacific Journal of Oriental medicine, 7, 40-41.
Siterman, S., Eltes, F., Wolfson, V., Zabludovsky, N., Bartoov, B. (1997). Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from sub fertility related to sperm quality. Archives ofAndrology, 39, 155-161.
Yang, W. P. (2001). A review of traditional Chinese medical treatment of male infertility and erectile dysfunction. Journal of Andrology, 22(2), 173-182.
De Jager, T., Bornman, M.S. (1999). Reproductive toxins affecting the male [Abstract]. In R. Jansen & D. Mortimer (Eds.), Towards reproductive certainty: The plenary proceedings of the 11 th world congress on In Vitro Fertilisation & human reproductive genetics (p.265-267). New York: Parthenon publishing group.
Cox, S. (Presenter). (2003, August 21). Infertility: Dealing with the inconceivable [Radio broadcast transcript]. Health online special series. Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio national. Retrieved August 28, 2003 from http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/infertility/.
Salleh, A. (Presenter). (2001, February 5). Male infertility is not just a sperm problem. [Radio broadcast transcript]. Science online. Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio national. Retrieved February 13, 2001 from http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s241290.htm.
McLachlan, R. I., de Krester, D. M. (2001). Male infertility: the case for continued research. Medical Journal of Australia, 174 (3), 116-117
Chen, G. (2003). Research Review from China. Vitaforce News, 1.
Jansen, R. (1999). Transmission of the mitochondrial genome [Abstract]. R. Jansen & D. Mortimer (Eds.), Towards Reproductive Certainty: The plenary proceedings of the 11 th world congress on In Vitro Fertilisation & human reproductive genetics (p.333). New York: Parthenon publishing group.
Zhiyuan, Q. (1996). Clinical observation of 54 cases of Male infertility treated by acupuncture and moxabustion. The Journal of Chinese medicine, 52, 12.
Zhiyuan, Q. (1997). Male infertility three cases treated by acupuncture. The Journal of Chinese medicine, 53, 26.
Jiasheng, Z. (1987). The acupuncture treatment of 248 cases of Male infertility. The Journal of Chinese medicine, 25, 28.
Becker, S. (2000). Treatment by Chinese medicine semen anomalies. The Journal of Chinese medicine, 62, 46.
Xiangyi, S. (1997). Xu Runsan’s experience in treating sperm abnormalities. The Journal of Chinese medicine 54, 9.
Zongchong, Z. (1997). Analysis of the therapeutic effect of combined use of acupuncture and medication in 297 cases of Male sterility. The Journal of Chinese medicine, 56, 44.
Yachun, Z. (1990). TCM treatment of Male infertility due to seminal abnormality. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine, 34, 33.
Baocun, Y. (2001). The therapeutic effect of Sheng Jing Zhing Zu Tang in treating Male infertility [Abstract]. In The Journal of Traditional Chinese medicine, 67, 46. [Abstract]. In Deadman, P. (Ed.), The Journal of Chinese Medicine, 63.
Clavey, S. (2003). Notes on the treatment of Male infertility. The Journal of Chinese medicine, 73, 45-52.