Acupuncture and IVF
Since the first IVF baby in 1978 more than 3 million babies have been born with ART methods. Every year in the UK, 32,000 couples receive IVF treatment, with around 11,000 babies born annually as a result. This accounts for 1% of all births.
Infertility now affects 1 in 7 couples, and the number seeking help has risen by over 55% in the last 5 years. However, IVF is only around 30% successful and the average cost of one cycle in Great Britain is about £4,000 including drugs. Lower odds will be given for certain conditions and some treatments, such as ICSE, are more expensive still.
Is it any wonder then that couples are turning in droves to alternative methods to help their fertility, or to try and help the effectiveness of their IVF cycle?
Chinese medicine has been shown to increase the success rates of IVF to up to 70% (Shulan Tang, Lifang Liang, German study, BMJ Feb 08).
What does acupuncture add to your IVF cycle? What we would hope to achieve is to:
- Improve gamete quality (sperm and ova)
- Improve embryo quality
- Improve quality of endometrium
- Reduce stress of participants
- Reduce unwanted effects of drugs
- Regulate hormones
- Reduce chances of miscarriage
- Strengthen immune system
I have a long term interest and personal experience in the area of IVF and infertility. I have practiced acupuncture for over 20 years and have undertaken extra studies in the speciality of IVF and infertility, and am a member of the Acupuncture Fertility Network.
- photo of sperm being injected into an ovum
Jamie Gisby - Acupuncture for IVF in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Cirencester.