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Clincal Study 20: Acup and of IVF High-Tech Fertility Tx
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) an Ancient Medicine Enhances the Results of IVF High-Tech Fertility Treatments
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used for thousands of years to help couples become pregnant. With the technology of Modern Medicine couples that have been struggling to become parents now have a good chance of fulfilling their dreams.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has become a popular choice for many couples. Now, high tech joins with the ancient wisdom of acupuncture. Many studies have shown that Acupuncture can enhance the pregnancy rates of women going through IVF. Two studies, which have gotten the most attention on the use of Acupuncture combined with IVF, are
1) Influence of Acupuncture on the Pregnancy rate on patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Paulus et al. Fertility & Sterility Vol 77:No.4, April 2002
2) Reduction In blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. Stener-Victorin et al. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology.
The Paulus protocol uses two acupuncture treatments. One is given just before Embryo transfer and one just after Embryo transfer. The first treatment prepares the woman’s body to open and accept the Embryo and the second (post transfer) uses acupoints for holding and keeping the Embryo.
The Stener-Victorin study used a series of acupuncture treatments using electro acupuncture. This incorporates using gentle electro stimulation on needles places in the back and legs. The protocol requires at least eight acupuncture treatments before retrieval of the eggs. This specifically increases the blood flow to the uterus which in tern helps the fertility medications reach the ovaries. This provides a better stimulation to the ovaries. The other benefit is that the uterine wall lining develops a nice thick environment and makes a better place for the embryo to imbed. Without this plush lining the embryo has no place to imbed.
These studies demonstrated a 10 to 15% improvement in pregnancy rates in those patients who augmented their traditional IVF treatments with acupuncture. It took Western Reproductive Techniques over 8 years for a 10% improvement in IVF statistics and 4 more years to improve it by another 10%. These studies would suggest providing patients with acupuncture treatments is a very positive practice.
Dr. Paul Magarelli of RMFC (Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center) Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Diane K. Cridennda Licensed Acupuncturist of East Winds Acupuncture have just completed a 4-year study showing the efficacy of Acupuncture being used in conjunction with IVF. Both electro acupuncture and Pre and Post embryo transfer acupuncture protocols were used. The study (which has been submitted for presentation and publication) studied reproductive outcomes in over 160 patients receiving IVF, or IVF & ICSI (50% pregnancy rates per cycle in the acupuncture patients). It is reported that the ”good prognosis” patients (those patients who have a good chance of success) could be made to have better outcomes (16% more pregnancy) by using acupuncture during their IVF cycle. The most remarkable discovery was that the acupuncture group had a significantly higher live birth rate. Since the goal here is to have a baby not just to achieve pregnancy, this is a remarkable finding? Another remarkable finding was that no ectopic pregnancies were reported in the acupuncture group versus 9% in the non- acupuncture group. More research needs to be done to support this finding.
There are secondary benefits from acupuncture that our patients report:
The patient reports that their stress and anxiety levels are lessened Greater attunement to their own bodies and the changes they experience Most of the women lovingly call their acupuncture treatments “needle naps” The patients also get a sense that they have some control and can contribute to their IVF cycle. Acupuncture is the placement of fine needles into specific acupoints along the pathways of energy in the body. This works by sending messages to the brain almost like programming a computer. The basis of all TCM is energy or “Qi”. Energy flows in patterns of electricity through our bodies, cells and tissues. This Qi is conducted through protein molecules giving us energy and life. This energy is carried through our bodies via pathways of energy called meridians. These meridians make up a web or network of channels, which sets up communication between every organ in your body. Oriental doctors have mapped these channels out over the course of thousands of years of experimentation and observation. The insertion of fine needles into the acupoints along the meridians produces measurable effects on different parts of the body. This in how acupuncture can affect abdominal organs, such as the kidneys, liver and uterus by placing needles in your arms and legs.
Some of the acupuncture points used in the studies mentioned above make absolute sense to a TCM practitioner. These acupoints achieve balance by holding the Qi up, moving the blood (a natural heparin affect) regulates the uterus by building a nice plush uterine wall lining.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has become a popular choice for many couples. Now, high tech joins with the ancient wisdom of acupuncture. Many studies have shown that Acupuncture can enhance the pregnancy rates of women going through IVF. Two studies, which have gotten the most attention on the use of Acupuncture combined with IVF, are
1) Influence of Acupuncture on the Pregnancy rate on patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Paulus et al. Fertility & Sterility Vol 77:No.4, April 2002
2) Reduction In blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. Stener-Victorin et al. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology.
The Paulus protocol uses two acupuncture treatments. One is given just before Embryo transfer and one just after Embryo transfer. The first treatment prepares the woman’s body to open and accept the Embryo and the second (post transfer) uses acupoints for holding and keeping the Embryo.
The Stener-Victorin study used a series of acupuncture treatments using electro acupuncture. This incorporates using gentle electro stimulation on needles places in the back and legs. The protocol requires at least eight acupuncture treatments before retrieval of the eggs. This specifically increases the blood flow to the uterus which in tern helps the fertility medications reach the ovaries. This provides a better stimulation to the ovaries. The other benefit is that the uterine wall lining develops a nice thick environment and makes a better place for the embryo to imbed. Without this plush lining the embryo has no place to imbed.
These studies demonstrated a 10 to 15% improvement in pregnancy rates in those patients who augmented their traditional IVF treatments with acupuncture. It took Western Reproductive Techniques over 8 years for a 10% improvement in IVF statistics and 4 more years to improve it by another 10%. These studies would suggest providing patients with acupuncture treatments is a very positive practice.
Dr. Paul Magarelli of RMFC (Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center) Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Diane K. Cridennda Licensed Acupuncturist of East Winds Acupuncture have just completed a 4-year study showing the efficacy of Acupuncture being used in conjunction with IVF. Both electro acupuncture and Pre and Post embryo transfer acupuncture protocols were used. The study (which has been submitted for presentation and publication) studied reproductive outcomes in over 160 patients receiving IVF, or IVF & ICSI (50% pregnancy rates per cycle in the acupuncture patients). It is reported that the ”good prognosis” patients (those patients who have a good chance of success) could be made to have better outcomes (16% more pregnancy) by using acupuncture during their IVF cycle. The most remarkable discovery was that the acupuncture group had a significantly higher live birth rate. Since the goal here is to have a baby not just to achieve pregnancy, this is a remarkable finding? Another remarkable finding was that no ectopic pregnancies were reported in the acupuncture group versus 9% in the non- acupuncture group. More research needs to be done to support this finding.
There are secondary benefits from acupuncture that our patients report:
The patient reports that their stress and anxiety levels are lessened Greater attunement to their own bodies and the changes they experience Most of the women lovingly call their acupuncture treatments “needle naps” The patients also get a sense that they have some control and can contribute to their IVF cycle. Acupuncture is the placement of fine needles into specific acupoints along the pathways of energy in the body. This works by sending messages to the brain almost like programming a computer. The basis of all TCM is energy or “Qi”. Energy flows in patterns of electricity through our bodies, cells and tissues. This Qi is conducted through protein molecules giving us energy and life. This energy is carried through our bodies via pathways of energy called meridians. These meridians make up a web or network of channels, which sets up communication between every organ in your body. Oriental doctors have mapped these channels out over the course of thousands of years of experimentation and observation. The insertion of fine needles into the acupoints along the meridians produces measurable effects on different parts of the body. This in how acupuncture can affect abdominal organs, such as the kidneys, liver and uterus by placing needles in your arms and legs.
Some of the acupuncture points used in the studies mentioned above make absolute sense to a TCM practitioner. These acupoints achieve balance by holding the Qi up, moving the blood (a natural heparin affect) regulates the uterus by building a nice plush uterine wall lining.
Patricia Karnowski M.S.O.M.
789 Webber Ct,
Linden, MI 48451
patricia@fertilityformulas.com
910-420-2194
789 Webber Ct,
Linden, MI 48451
patricia@fertilityformulas.com
910-420-2194