Fertility
Acupuncture and plant medicine can help boost your fertility and increase your chances of conceiving whether you are trying to do so naturally or are working with reproductive technologies such as IUI or IVF.
It is not uncommon for couples to take a year or longer to conceive. In many of these cases, a fertility specialist has concluded that there are no known barriers to conception and the diagnosis of "unexplained infertility" is given. Alternatively a couple may decide to forgo the help of a fertility specialist and try other methods of increasing the chances of conception such as fertility awareness, dietary and lifestyle changes, or bodywork therapies.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can help in these cases by:
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Regulating menstrual cycles
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Increasing awareness around timing and ovulation
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Increasing blood flow to the ovaries and uterus
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Improving ovarian function and increasing egg quality
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Increasing quality and quantity of cervical mucus
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Increasing a women's energy and stamina in preparation for carrying a child
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Ease anxieties and fears about the potential inability to conceive
Some women may choose to seek the help of a fertility specialist to help them conceive by using drugs like clomid and/or technologies such as IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilization). In these cases I am happy to work alongside western medicine using both acupuncture and herbal medicine. Receiving acupuncture directly before and after a transfer has been shown to improve IVF outcomes. Receiving acupuncture regularly in preparation for a transfer and to help prevent miscarriage can contribute to achieving a healthy, full-term pregnancy. The emotional and spiritual toll this journey can take is not to be underestimated. I also focus on easing stress and anxiety, which in turn can increase fertility!