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IVF Support
All practitioners at ACNHW
are very experienced with IVF support. This support usually
consists of various combinations of acupuncture, naturopathy and
hypnotherapy. Adjunctive therapies used may include massage,
dietetics and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Individual
treatment plans are drawn up taking into consideration your medical
history, assessment, individual requirements and personal
preferences. Most clients who contact us already have an idea of
the type of treatment they are seeking and which practitioner they
wish to consult. If you are unsure of where to begin, make an
appointment with the Naturopath who will assess you and make
recommendations for further treatment.
Acupuncture in IVF Support
The use of acupuncture in
conjunction with IVF is becoming very commonplace with many IVF
specialists now recommending acupuncture to their patients. Ideally
patients will have a weekly visit with the acupuncturist on a weekly
basis for a month prior to the IVF transfer taking place. This lead
up treatment assists with stress levels, provides the opportunity to
familiarize with both the acupuncture treatment and the
practitioner and allows the practitioner to correct any imbalances
present. On the day of the IVF transfer two acupuncture treatments
are conducted, one immediately prior to and one immediately after
the transfer. In cases where there is a history of miscarriage one
or two treatments in the weeks following may also be recommended.
If you are about to begin your IVF cycle and haven’t left time for
the lead up treatment, using acupuncture on the day of transfer only
will still improve your chances of a positive pregnancy outcome.
Acupuncture support of IVF
has been well researched. Clinical trials conducted in
Germany (2002),
Adelaide (2006) and
Denmark (2006) have all demonstrated that using
acupuncture in conjunction with IVF increased the pregnancy rate
compared with women using IVF alone. A clinical trial conducted in
Germany in 2006 used acupuncture during the luteal
phase (days after ovulation) after IVF and showed a greater number
of pregancies in the women using acupuncture compared to those who
did not. A case series recorded in the
UK (2006) also recorded a higher rate of pregnancy in
women undergoing IVF who also used acupuncture, also noting that the
acupuncture group were more relaxed which may have contributed to
the success of the treatment. Researchers in
Sweden summarized the current research into
acupuncture and IVF and concluded that acupuncture has a positive
outcome on pregnancy rates with no adverse effects.
Hypnotherapy
in IVF Support
Hypnotherapy has also been
demonstrated to increase pregnancy rates when used in conjunction
with IVF treatment. In a study conducted in
2006 women using hypnotherapy in conjunction with
IVF showed a clinical pregnancy rate of 53% compared to 30% in those
using IVF alone. The study also concluded that patients attitudes
were improved in the hypnotherapy group.
Naturopathy in IVF Support
Naturopathy is also used in
IVF support. Ideally consultations with the Naturopath will take
place in the months leading up to IVF treatment. Herbal medicine,
homoeopathics and diet and lifestyle advice may all be recommended
to assist with known conditions and correct imbalances. Information
on this can be found in our section in fertility. Many herbal
medicines can interact with the drugs you will be prescribed as part
of your IVF treatment. For this reason it is important to consult
with a naturopath experienced in this area. In most cases herbal
medicines will be discontinued as you begin your IVF cycle.
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