Menstruation, Fertility and Chinese Medicine.

Chinese Medicine is rapidly gaining popularity in the West as an effective remedy for a wide range of gynaecological complaints. Recent studies have shown that Chinese Medicine is very effective in increasing the likelihood of a full term pregnancy (especially when combined with IVF).

Ideally the menstrual cycle should be pain free - emotionally and physically, there should be no cramping and no need for pain killers. A painful period may indicate endometriosis, a condition where the endometrium is not shedding properly and this can impact on fertility (causing miscarriages and difficulty falling pregnant). Regardless of whether you want to conceive, you should not have to put up with period pain, and having to schedule time off from work or social duties to deal with the pain.

How does Chinese Medicine help?

Women are born with a finite number of eggs which are more than halved by the end of puberty; this is why it can be so difficult to fall pregnant in your late 30's. The aim of Chinese Medicine is to increase the quality of these eggs by increasing blood flow around the ovaries and stimulate follicles to develop. Acupuncture has been found to increase blood supply to the womb and improve cells that come into contact with the lining of the womb which interacts with the embryo. Therefore Chinese Medicine is very beneficial if you are trying to conceive naturally or by other means.

What is IVF and how does Chinese Medicine help?

Recent statistics show that up to 15% of couples need medical intervention to become pregnant and Australian scientists are now discovering that Acupuncture can support IVF.

In IVF hormones are injected to control ovulation, eggs are removed and fertilised outside the body, and after a few days embryos are transferred back into the womb. Around 3% of babies are born this way.

In a groundbreaking study conducted in Australia, 200 women received Acupuncture and were compared against a control group of women who received placebo Acupuncture. The trial found that in those women receiving real Acupuncture, the live birth rate was doubled. The British Medical Journal also reported that Acupuncture with IVF increased the pregnancy rate by 65%.

IVF is an expensive and stressful procedure. If Acupuncture increases the likelihood of pregnancy, then the need for more IVF cycles decreases as does the cost.

Therefore acupuncture is a safe, relaxing and relatively low cost treatment to improve success rates. It also helps with general health, increasing energy and regulating digestion, making you look and feel great.

Acupuncture in Pregnancy

Among women in labour and women at various stages of pregnancy, trials have shown Acupuncture to be very effective and safe. Acupuncture helps with fluid retention, assists with sugar cravings, nausea and lack of energy and can be used to induce labour if overdue.