Fertility Acupuncture
Why Choose Us?
Over 20 years clinical experience
Specialism in fertility acupuncture, and reflexology
Former fertility acupuncturist at The Zita West Fertility Clinic
Medical knowledge of IVF/IUI, egg harvesting process, embryo transfer acupuncture protocol, and fertility medications.
We run acupuncture workshops in Assisted Conception Units for fertility teams.
Members of British Acupuncture Council, British Fertility Society, and Acupuncture Fertility Network
How Can Acupuncture Enhance Fertility?
Improves blood flow to ovaries and uterus
Regulates the hormones, menstrual cycle and ovulation
Improves ovarian function; encourages production and quality of follicles
Supports and optimises egg harvesting cycles
Improves thickness of womb lining
Enhances immunity
Improves pregnancy rates for natural conception and fertility treatments, such as IVF, and IUI
Boosts pregnancy rates for fresh and frozen embryos transfers
Lessons side effects of fertility medication
Promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels
Aids endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, cysts, PCOS
Male factor infertility - improves sperm parameters
Fertility Acupuncture
Fertility Acupuncture
Acupuncture to support natural conception, male infertility and fertility treatment; IVF, IUI, embryo transfers, egg harvesting, donor egg/sperm.
Fertility Reflexology
Fertility Reflexology
Reflexology safely supports natural fertility, and Western fertility treatment, such as IVF, IUI, and egg freezing. Available for male and female infertility.
Fertility Nutrition
Fertility Nutrition
Nutritional consultations promote healthy eating and optimum supplementation for male fertility, female fertility, and pregnancy.
Conditions
Female Infertility
- Natural Conception
- Unexplained infertility
- High FSH/Low AMH
- Primary or Secondary Infertility
- Luteal Phase Defect
- Ovulation Induction (Clomid cycles)
- Egg Donation
- Egg Freezing
- Blocked Fallopian Tubes
- IVF, IUI, ICSI, IMSI, PICSI
- Stress and Fertility
- Weight Loss
- Stop Smoking
Acupuncture and IVF
- IVF, IUI, ICSI, IMSI, PICSI
- Follicle Count
- Egg Quality
- Ovarian Hyperstimulation (OHSS)
- Egg Collection
- Fresh Pre-Embryo Transfer
- Fresh Post-Embryo Transfer
- Frozen Pre-Embryo Transfer
- Frozen Post-Embryo Transfer
- Split Embryo Transfer
- Implantation
- Luteal Phase Defect
- Ovulation Induction (Clomid cycles)
- Egg Donation
- Sperm Donation
- Egg Freezing
- Blocked Fallopian Tubes
- Stress and Fertility
- Weight Loss
- Stop Smoking
Male Infertility
- Low Sperm Count
- Poor Sperm Morphology
- Poor Sperm Motility
- Herpes
- Varicoeles
- DNA Fragmentation
- Low Libido
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Stress and Fertility
- Stop Smoking
- Weight Loss
Gynaecological Conditions
- Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Absent or Infrequent Ovulation
- Painful Periods | Dysmenorrhoea
- Heavy Bleeding| Menorrhagia
- Absent Periods | Amenorrhea
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
- Absent or Excess Vaginal Discharge
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- Ovarian Cysts
- Polyps
- Uterine Fibroids
- Thrush
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
- Cystitis
- Sexual Disorders
- Low Libido
- Painful Sex | Dyspareunia
- Menopause – peri or post
Acupuncture and IVF Schedule
Acupuncture Before IVF
Fertility acupuncture, reflexology and nutrition for at least 3-4 months prior to IVF is recommended to prepare the body for treatment and to ensure that both partners are in their optimum state of health emotionally and physically.
During this time, it is possible to have an impact on the health of both the egg and improve the quality of the sperm.
Even a six week fertility acupuncture programme prior to commencing IVF or fertility treatment is beneficial.
Acupuncture During IVF
There are varying fertility protocols with different timeframes. We recommend weekly acupuncture for the women from the first day of medication through to embryo transfer. Between 3-4 sessions of acupuncture may benefit the stimulation phase, this is dependent on the response to the medication, dosage, regarding follicle count, size, and growth rate from scans, and blood tests.
Acupuncture Before Egg Collection
We recommend a single fertility acupuncture treatment for the male prior to egg collection to relieve anxiety.
Where there is male factor infertility, a fertility acupuncture programme is recommended for the male to optimise sperm quality, motility and count.
Acupuncture After Egg Collection
IVF patients are recommended to have an acupuncture treatment after egg collection, to reduce any local tissue trauma or bleeding, and help prepare a calm environment for the arrival of an embryo.
Acupuncture and Embryo Transfer (or Frozen Embryo Transfer)
We recommend a fertility acupuncture before embryo transfer and acupuncture after embryo transfer to improve pregnancy rates. Ideally, this is recommended on the same day as close to your embryo transfer appointment.
This protocol is the same for frozen embryo transfers (FET).
Acupuncture and embryo transfer research trials shows that fertility acupuncture before embryo transfer and acupuncture after embryo transfer may improve pregnancy rates by up to 65%.
Acupuncture during this time is highly recommended by many fertility clinics worldwide and some clinics incorporate acupuncture as part of their IVF treatments.
The Acupuncture Space will endevour to offer flexibility around embryo transfer.
Acupuncture and Implantation
We recommend two fertility acupuncture treatments during the two week wait period before you take a pregnancy test. The first treatment is to support implantation.
Implantation time can vary depending on when the embryos were transferred. It is usually about 2-3 days after a day 3 embryo transfer, and the day of or the day after a day 5 embryo transfer.
Acupuncture Before Your Pregnancy Test
The second treatment during the two week wait is to support you emotionally, to ease anxiety and promote relaxation.
If You Have A Positive Pregnancy Test, Congratulations!
We recommend weekly acupuncture treatment during the first trimester, up to week 12/13 as there is a higher risk of miscarriage in IVF induced pregnancies.
The treatments are gentle and supportive and help promote a healthy pregnancy. We offer a acupuncture during pregnancy programme to support all stages of pregnancy.
Happy Clients
"Charlotte provided a is an amazing fertility acupuncturist and guided me through the fertility maze. She went through my blood test results and was knowledgeable about my raised NK cells and cytokines, the names of all my IVF medications, and documented side effects. Each week, Charlotte personalised my acupuncture treatment and explained how acupuncture can improve my chances of pregnancy.
This cycle was a huge success, I produced more eggs than in previous cycles, and had four top grade embryos. Three were frozen at day 5 and I am now 14 weeks pregnant. Charlotte is amazing, a wealth of knowledge and really supportive. I recommend her Blackheath clinic to anyone struggling to conceive. "
Becky
London
"After two years of trying for a baby and a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, I had a course of acupuncture with Charlotte and became pregnant within three months. I can't explain it but during the acupuncture, I felt so much calmer, more energetic, and positive.
Charlotte is so experienced, and I felt in safe hands. She initially focused on my menstrual cycle and ovulation and it worked. My periods became less painful and more regular. I am so happy I conceived naturally and wish I had tried acupuncture sooner. "
Emma Clarke
Essex
"I was going through egg harvesting and had read about the benefits of fertility acupuncture. My sister had seem Charlotte for PCOS, and recommended I see her too.
I have had three cycles now and have frozen my eggs. I am not ready yet to fertilise any eggs but will definitely use Charlotte's acupuncture services again. I had felt anxious about the process but Charlotte is calm and has such a soothing manner and always put me at ease. Thank you for everything. "
Clara Roberts
Kent
F.A.Q.
Does acupuncture improve IVF pregnancy rates and live births?
“Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis”,by Manheaimer E et al, British Medical Journal 2008, pg 336-545
The above study concluded that current preliminary evidence suggests that acupuncture given with embryo transfer improves rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing IVF. Within fertility research, acupuncture demonstrates beneficial hormonal responses with decreased miscarriage rates, raising the possibility acupuncture may promote specific beneficial effects in early pregnancy. Pregnancy acupuncture is thus recommended weekly during the first trimester.
What is the importance of acupuncture before and after embryo transfer during IVF?
“Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy” by Paulus W et al, Fertility and Sterility 2002 Vol 77, pg 721-724
In this study, 160 patients who were undergoing ART and who had good quality embryos were divided into the following two groups through random selection:
80 women had acupuncture before embryo transfer and acupuncture after embryo transfer whilst 80 women had embryo transfer without acupuncture.
The results showed clinical pregnancies documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture and embryo transfer group, whereas pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group.
“Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis”,by Manheaimer E et al, British Medical Journal 2008, pg 336-545
In this study, that combined the results of seven trials involving 1,366 women in an attempt to provide a clearer picture of the benefits of acupuncture for embryo transfer.
They found that, looking at all the research together, women who underwent acupuncture were 65% more likely to have a successful embryo transfer compared with those who underwent a “sham” version of the treatment, or had no extra treatment at all. (BBC, 2008)
Where can I read about the clinical trials regarding acupuncture and embryo transfer?
Fertility and Sterility, the official publication of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine publishes juried original articles of scientific excellence in clinical and laboratory research relevant to reproductive endocrinology and physiology.
Fertilty and Sterility is an international journal for obstetricians, gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, urologists, basic scientists and others who treat and investigate problems of infertility.
Eleven scientific studies published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture performed close to the time of embryo transfer improved chances of pregnancy.
When should I commence acupuncture for IVF?
Acupuncture is recommended three months prior to commencing IVF to ensure you are in your optimum state of health. Our observations have highlighted that those clients that invest in this preparation have reduced or absent side effects from fertility medication, feel calm, and confident that they have done everything they can to improve chances of success. We have many clients who have experienced failed cycles of IVF but then have a positive outcome only when they embark on our fertility acupuncture programme.
Should my partner have acupuncture to prepare for IVF?
Men do benefit from a three month acupuncture programme as it takes three months for the sperm to develop. Even if a semen analysis meets all of the normal parameters as defined by the World Health Organisation, acupuncture may help with the sperm production process and ease anxiety prior to providing the sperm sample ahead of egg collection. Our approach is to encourage both men and women to have acupuncture three months prior to IVF.
Where do the acupuncture points go for fertility?
At certain times needles will be placed on the lower abdomen, but there are also important points on the legs, feet, hands, and arms that will be used. We often also use auricular acupuncture points, which are points on the ear that have a very calming effect.
How does acupuncture help egg quality?
Research has shown that acupuncture successfully increases the blood flow around the ovaries, which improves their ability to support healthy eggs, improving both the quality and quantity of eggs. Many clients approach The Acupuncture Space with low ovarian reserve, possibly high FSH or low AMH, or both. Acupuncture research shows that acupuncture may have a positive effect on the hormones, thus improving these results.
CANARY WHARF CLINIC
51 Cannon Workshops, Hertsmere Road, London, E14 4AS
BLACKHEATH CLINIC
151 Old Dover Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 8SY
WIMPOLE ST CLINIC
The London Acupuncture Clinic, 57A Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8YP