Acupuncture for Fertility & Pregnancy Wellness
Preconception Care
“Nourish the soil before planting the seed” This analogy is commonly used in Chinese Medicine to stress the importance of pre-conception care. Preparing your body before trying to conceive ensures an optimal physiological environment for conception and implantation to take place. The healthier you are before trying to conceive the more likely you are to go on and have a healthy pregnancy and post-partum recovery period. Pre-conception care can begin at ay point in your fertility journey, but is recommended 3 months prior to trying to conceive for both male and female partners.
Female Factor Infertility
Female fertility acupuncture treatments are focused on restoring balance to the reproductive system. Treatments focus on: regulating menstrual cycles and balancing hormones (FSH, LH, Estrogen and Progesterone, TSH etc), improving egg and follicle quality by influencing maternal mitochondria, and ensuring adequate blood flow to the ovaries as well as the utering lining to promote implantation. The acupuncture points selected are unique to your TCM diagnosis and body constitution. If you have other health concerns such as headaches, poor sleep or digestive issues these will also be addressed.
Together we will track your menstrual cycle, look for patterns and tailor our treatments to whatever phase of your cycle you are in. Our goal will be to optimize your cycle: length, duration and flow volume, plus clear any PMS symptoms.
Acupuncture can also be used to address PCOS, endometriosis, low-ovarian reserve, ovarian cysts, fibroids, prolactinomas, recurrent miscarriage, repeated implantation failure, immunological infertility and many other common gynecological issues that can cause infertility.
Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial when used with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) such as timed intercourse and cucyle monitoring, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In-vitro Fertilization (IVF). We will work closely with the treatment plan from your reproductive endocrinologist and use acupuncture, nutrition and lifestyle changes to give you every chance at success.
Male Factor Infertility
Acupuncture can also be used to treat male factor infertility. Issues such as low sperm count, poor motility or mobility, DNA fragmentation and azoospermia can all be treated with regular acupuncture sessions. Treatments can be used to help quit smoking, reduce stress and improve sleep – all things that are shown to increase sperm function.
Pregnancy Wellness
Acupuncture is safe, effective and drug-free treatment option for all stages of pregnancy from the 1st trimester up to labour and delivery and even post-partum (also known as the 4th trimester). Treatments can be done for overall health maintenance or to address any pregnancy-related issues such as morning sickness, nausea and vomitting, food aversions, headaches, constipation, poor sleep, carpal tunnel syndrome, heartburn, back/sciatic pain, anxiety and mood swings.
Turning Breech Babies
Acupuncture and Moxibution can be used to turn breech babies (known as malposition of the fetus). Moxibution is a Chinese herb (Mugwart) that is ignited and held over top of an acupuncture point on your little toe. This can be done in-clinic, but should also be done at-home daily to increase effectiveness. Ideally, this is done around 33 weeks gestation, but can still be useful later in pregnancy.
Labour Preparation
Weekly pre-birth acupuncture treatments are highly encouraged starting around 35 weeks gestation. The purpose of pre-birth treatments are to help prepare your body for an efficient and uncomplicated labour and vaginal delivery. The treatments focus on cervical ripening, effacement and managing any mental-emotional issues that may arise. Studies have shown that women who do pre-birth acupuncture report decreased labour pain as well as a shorter duration of labour and less need for medical interventions. Treatments are given 1x/week until delivery. If deemed medically necessary, we also offer acupuncture induction of labour.