|
'I was fortunate to enjoy the support of Jenny Byrne's acupuncture and fertility expertise while undergoing IVF. Having had a history of endometriosis and one failed pregnancy, I was encouraged by my doctor to explore complimentary acupuncture while undergoing fertility treatment. I believe regular treatments from Jenny, with her gentle and compassionate manner, provided a natural balance to the physical and emotional strains of the IVF drugs. Most importantly, the addition of acupuncture and some Chinese herbs to the IVF resulted in a successful and healthy pregnancy!' Sue aged 30
Jenny has supported many women across all age groups undergoing IVF, or other forms of assisted reproduction, that have had a successful outcome and a live birth using acupuncture and nutritional supplements.
After a very long fertility journey and a recent operation to remove my fallopian tubes I turned up at Jenny's practice with so much hope! Jenny took me under her wing and really spent time understanding how my body worked and explaining to me how I could balance my body and mind with some Chinese herbs and acupuncture to give me the very best possible chance of a successful pregnancy. There were so many layers to my visits with Jenny from general health and well being to healing from my operation but most importantly preparing for the onslaught of a 3rd round of IVF. What was most rewarding though was having someone to talk to who really listened and gave sound caring advice, there are so many questions running through your mind during such a challenging time.
With Jenny's help my husband and I are now looking forward to welcoming our daughter in a few months time. NB
Acupuncture & Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
‘The good news of the acupuncture use in fertility therapy is the benefit is not affected by age, meaning all age groups showed an increase in IVF success rates from the acupuncture therapy’ (Dr Caroline Smith)
Using acupuncture in combination with Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) is gaining wide-spread acceptance due to clinical trials done across the globe. For over a decade research has been published in official medical journals such as Fertility and Sterility by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and Human Reproduction by the European Society for Reproduction and Embryology showing the efficacy of acupuncture as a support therapy for ART/ IVF/ICSI.
I came to see Jenny when we were about to go through our 10th cycle of IVF (yes 10th - crazy or determined we were!). A few people had mentioned to try acupuncture and since this was going to be our last attempt with IVF we wanted to try everything. I found Jenny and the team wonderful to deal with and always felt very relaxed after my appointments. I decided to do everything Jenny suggested including a slight change in my diet, balancing my ph level, using the Chinese herb and tiny acupuncture ear points. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain which was so true in the end.
8 eggs were collected and they were all fertilised and we were absolutely astounded that all eggs fertilised - this had never happened to us before. They grew them all to blastocyst day 5, 4 reaching blastocyst and the remainder still at day 4 stage on day 5 which were discarded. 1 egg was transferred back in and the other 3 were frozen. Things went along quite well in that terrible 2 week wait - the usual thoughts of 'I think it's worked, no it hasn't, ooh maybe it has' rollercoaster emotions. I was still keeping up with my weekly visits which helped me relax and obtain some perspective. Towards the end I was queasy in the morning, hungry and tired during the day (my thoughts were leaning toward maybe just maybe baby!). I went for my blood test and they did a quick pregnancy test and I was pregnant - wow I couldn't believe it!!!! My bloods were great and progesterone was high.
Now I am 13.5 weeks pregnant and most of the time feeling great and waiting in anticipation for our little miracle to finally arrive after 6.25 years of trying!! Thanks so much Eastwest fertility I don't believe our little one would be on it's way without you. TP
Research has shown that receiving acupuncture while undergoing assisted reproduction has positive benefits. Studies show that when acupuncture is combined with In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) there can be a 50% increase in pregnancy rates in women of all ages. This is highly encouraging considering that in Australia the one percent of births involving the use of ART are given on average only a 20% chance of conceiving in an IVF cycle. Additional benefits of acupuncture that have been reported include reducing the potentially considerable side-effects associated with the fertility drugs required in assisted reproduction, and importantly, decreasing the chance of miscarriage.
Our baby girl was conceived through a combination of IVF and treatment with Jenny. After having only a few weeks of treatment with Jenny we were successful in becoming pregnant. While we were ecstatic in becoming pregnant we were not surprised by the result, given Jenny's involvement in our conception treatment.
Jenny provided not only acupuncture and herbal treatments she also advised in relation to dietary improvements and lifestyle changes. This holistic approach to pre-conception meant we were more confident in our chances of becoming pregnant and we were more relaxed at the time of our IVF treatment. Jenny continues to be involved with our pregnancy. Her skills have been used to assist in reducing the dreaded morning sickness. We cannot thank Jenny enough for her professionalism and friendly approach to client care. EH
Thank-you so much for fitting me in to have acupuncture before and after IVF. I had never had or experienced acupuncture before, but had heard that it increased the chance of an IVF pregnancy. After ringing your clinic it was wonderful that you were so welcoming and obliging to my needs, and understood the necessity of the timing of the procedure. When I arrived I was welcomed and felt at ease straight away. The acupuncture itself was very relaxing, and it was just nice to know I was doing everything in my power to make this IVF transfer work. Now here I sit writing to you, 18 weeks pregnant, one very happy, very lucky future mother. I never dreamed I would have to use 12 embryos before falling pregnant, and the only one that worked is when I used acupuncture, this must mean something! NA
Four major studies demonstrating increased pregnancy retes when acupuncture is combined with ART/IVF:
In Australia a randomised study headed by Dr Caroline Smith was published in 2006. Smith and her colleagues evaluated the effects of acupuncture on clinical pregnancy rates for women undergoing IVF/ICSI. A group of two hundred and eighty (280) women were randomly allocated to receive either ‘true’ acupuncture (treatment group) or non-invasive ‘sham’ acupuncture (control group) immediately before and after embryo transfer. The authors chose acupuncture points that have effects on the reproductive, endocrine and neurological systems according to Chinese medicine principles. The study showed the chances of achieving a pregnancy increases (31% vs 23%) when acupuncture is used as an adjunct therapy to IVF. According to the authors ‘the ongoing pregnancy rate at 18 weeks was higher in the treatment [true acupuncture] group.’ This latter finding is consistent with a German study by Dieterle et al reported in the same issue of Fertility and Sterility.
A 2006 randomized Danish study by Westergaard et al involving 273 women undergoing IVF/ICSI demonstrated clinical pregnancy (39% vs 26%) and ongoing pregnancy (36% vs 22%) was significantly higher when acupuncture was performed before and after embryo transfer compared to when no acupuncture treatment was performed.
In 2002 Fertility and Sterility published the landmark IVF/acupuncture research by Dr Wolfgang Paulus and colleagues. The researchers studied 160 women undergoing IVF. Half received the standard fertility protocol and half had acupuncture added to the fertility protocol, receiving acupuncture before and after embryo transfer. The authors maintain the ‘analysis shows that the pregnancy rate for the acupuncture group is considerably higher than for the control group (42.5% vs 26.3%, P=.03).’
An unexpected outcome in a 1996 Swedish study lead by Stener-Victorin assessing the use of electro-acupuncture for pain relief during egg-pick up was a ‘significantly higher implantation rate’ in the group receiving electro-acupuncture.
References
BBC News, ‘Acupuncture boosts IVF success,’ Tues 16 April 2002, http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1933901.stm.
Dieterle S, Ying G, Hatzman W & Neuer A, 2006, ‘Effect of acupuncture on in-vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, perspective controlled clinical trial,’ Fertility and Sterility, May 2006, Vol. 85, Issue 5, pp. 1347-51.
Paulus WE, Zhang MM, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I & Sterzik K, 2002, ‘Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy,’ Fertility and Sterility, April 2002, Vol. 77, Issue 4, pp. 721-4.
Scott, Sophie, 2006, ‘Acupuncture linked to IVF success’ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/06/05/1655666.htm.
Smith C, Coyle M & Norman R, 2006, ‘Influence of acupuncture stimulation on pregnancy rates for women undergoing embryo transfer,’ Fertility and Sterility, May 2006, Vol. 85, Issue 5, pp. 1352-8.
Stener-Victorin E, Waldenstrom U, Wikland M & Janson PO, 1999, ‘A prospective randomized study of electro-acupuncture versus alfentanil as anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration in in-vitro fertilization,’ Human Reproduction, 1999, Vol 14, No. 10, pp. 2480-84.
Stener-Victorin E, Waldenstrom U, Andersaan SA, & Wikland M, 1996, ‘Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women using electro-acupuncture’, Human Reproduction, 1996, Vol.11, No. 6, pp. 1314-7.
|