Fertility
Paloma works with women, men and couples to support fertility in both natural and assisted conception. Blending the approaches of East and West to address underlying physiological factors, support hormonal balance, reduce stress and optimise reproductive health, she provides knowledge and support to equip, guide and empower you on your fertility journey.
Traditional acupuncture is increasingly used by women and couples who are trying to conceive, either naturally, as a support to IVF and other assisted reproductive techniques (ART) such as Clomid stimulated cycles, IVF, IUI, ICSI, or donor egg / sperm cycles, or when these have been unsuccessful.
You may have received a diagnosis of unexplained infertility or of conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), tubal dysfunction, recurrent ectopic pregnancy, recurrent miscarriage or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) on previous IVF cycles.
The mechanisms through which acupuncture can impact fertility are understood to be: supporting hormonal balance, supporting good circulation and thus oxygen and nutrient delivery to the ovaries and therefore influencing the the environment in which follicles develop, reducing inflammation, stress and anxiety.
Recurrent Miscarriage
In the very distressing situation of recurrent miscarriage, acupuncture can be aimed at supporting emotional balance, facilitating moving through grief and allowing the body to restore, and then at addressing the underlying imbalances.
Male infertility
When working with fertility it is always important to include the male partner’s fertility status. Problems may include a low sperm count, irregular sperm shape (morphology) or problems with sperm movement (motility), erectile dysfunction, hormonal imbalances or retrograde ejaculation.
It takes around 11 weeks for days for sperm to be replaced so three months of preparation is usually recommended where semen parameters are not optimal or out of range. Lifestyle measures are very important and acupuncture can also be an effective support alongside.
IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology
Acupuncture is becoming increasingly known about and sought after as a support for an IVF cycle and several studies have shown an increase in successful outcomes using acupuncture around embryo transfer. You can view the abstract of the most well-known of these, which found a 16% increase in pregnancies to term, here.
Acupuncture can also be used in conjunction with various assisted reproductive technologies such as IUI and ICSI.
During an IVF cycle the goal of treatment will change according to the phase of the cycle. For example during the stimulation phase treatment goals would include increasing blood flow to the uterus and ovaries and encouraging building of the endometrium, whereas around the trigger injection and egg collection treatment goals would include supporting the growth and maturation of the follicles and relieving abdominal distention and any other side effects.
For women who have been through an unsuccessful IVF cycle I recommend at least three months of preparation with acupuncture, lifestyle measures and possibly Chinese herbs, aimed at increasing nourishment and circulation to the ovaries and creating a balanced hormonal environment. In an ideal situation preparation with acupuncture and lifestyle measures would be started 6-9 months before an IVF cycle, though it is rare than someone who has reached the point of considering IVF is in a position to do this kind of preparation and often anything is better than nothing, as the increased pregnancy rates with acupuncture around embryo transfer mentioned above demonstrate.
Paloma has completed advanced training in acupuncture for fertility and IVF and is a member of the Acupuncture Fertility Network (AFN).