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IVF Support
There is now a significant
amount of research suggesting that complementary therapies can play
an important adjunctive role in increasing the success of IVF
treatment. This research has examined both specific complementary
therapies as well as the interplay between fertility and
environmental and lifestyle factors.
Combining Complementary Therapies with IVF
Ideally, using
complementary therapies should be about an integrated approach to
becoming as healthy as you can so that your body can respond to
medical treatment such as Assisted Reproduction and IVF in the most
optimal way, increasing both your chances of conception and your
ability to support a healthy pregnancy. At Well2 we understand that
people have individual needs, so we recommend that you book a
Fertility Support Assessment
which will ensure that you receive that best possible advice on the
most appropriate support for you as an individual, and assist you to
achieve your dream of parenthood.
Fertility Support Assessments
At a Fertility Support Assessment we will
discuss with you your individual case history, personal health goals
and desired outcomes. Taking that information we will construct for
you a complementary health plan which incorporates diet, exercise,
lifestyle factors and the most appropriate support therapies for
your individual requirements which may include acupuncture,
supplements and herbs, psychology/hypnotherapy and other appropriate
therapies.
Diet and exercise
Most people recoil whenever a discussion on
healthy diet is on the agenda, but this is a very important area to
consider. Being within the correct weight range and eating the
correct types of foods can increase your chances of conception. When
you are pregnant, eating appropriately will help to ensure that you
and the baby are both healthy. Basic dietary information will be
covered in the Fertility Support Assessment, and special dietary
support is available from our Dietitian. Advice on appropriate
levels and types of exercise will also be covered.
Naturopathy, herbal
medicine and supplements
There are a number of herbal medicines and
supplements which can increase fertility, however it is important to
be assessed and prescribed these as an individual as the same
supplements can interfere with fertility if used incorrectly or if
they are not appropriate to you as an individual. It is important to
seek good advice if considering the use of herbal medicines or
supplements in conjunction with IVF treatment as many herbal
medicines and other supplements can interact with the drugs you will
be prescribed as part of your IVF treatment. For this reason it is
important to consult with a naturopath experienced in this area.
Herbal medicines should only be used in between IVF cycles and must
always be discontinued at the beginning of an IVF cycle unless your
IVF specialist has specifically advised you otherwise.
Acupuncture in IVF Support
The use of acupuncture in
conjunction with IVF has been well researched, and it is now well
accepted that acupuncture increases success rates with IVF
treatment. Ideally patients will have a weekly visit with the
acupuncturist on a weekly basis for a month prior to the IVF
transfer taking place. This lead up treatment assists with stress
levels, provides the opportunity to familiarize with both the
acupuncture treatment and the practitioner and allows the
practitioner to correct any imbalances present. On the day of the
IVF transfer two acupuncture treatments are conducted, one
immediately prior to and one immediately after the transfer. In
cases where there is a history of miscarriage one or two treatments
in the weeks following may also be recommended. If you are about to
begin your IVF cycle and haven’t left time for the lead up
treatment, using acupuncture on the day of transfer only will still
improve your chances of a positive pregnancy outcome.
Many research studies have found acupuncture to have a positive
effect on IVF success rates. Clinical trials conducted in
Germany (2002),
Adelaide (2006) and
Denmark (2006) have all demonstrated that using acupuncture
in conjunction with IVF increased the pregnancy rate compared with
women using IVF alone. A clinical trial conducted in
Germany in 2006 used acupuncture during the luteal phase
(days after ovulation) after IVF and showed a greater number of
pregancies in the women using acupuncture compared to those who did
not. A case series recorded in the
UK (2006) also recorded a higher rate of pregnancy in women
undergoing IVF who also used acupuncture, also noting that the
acupuncture group were more relaxed which may have contributed to
the success of the treatment. Researchers in
Sweden summarized the current research into acupuncture and
IVF and concluded that acupuncture has a positive outcome on
pregnancy rates with no adverse effects. A meta-analysis published
in the
British Medical Journal in 2008 concluded that acupuncture
given to women undergoing IVF treatment improves the rates of both
pregnancy and live birth.
Hypnotherapy
The use of hypnotherapy in conjunction with
IVF treatment has also received some attention from researchers, and
using hypnotherapy has been found to increase IVF success rates. In
a study conducted in
2006 women using hypnotherapy in conjunction with IVF showed
a clinical pregnancy rate of 53% compared to 30% in those using IVF
alone. The study also concluded that patients attitudes were
improved in the hypnotherapy group. Hypnotherapy is also very useful
in reducing stress levels which are often high in people undergoing
IVF.
The number and timing of hypnotherapy appointments for IVF support
and stress control vary from person to person depending on the
individual stress levels being experienced. People using
Hypnotherapy purely to enhance IVF success may only need one visit,
usually conducted around 2-3 days prior to embryo transfer. People
experiencing very high stress levels may be recommended several
sessions. Our psychologist is experienced in using hypnotherapy for
IVF support.
Caffeine, alcohol and smoking
Caffeine, alcohol and smoking can all decrease
fertility levels and contribute to lower success rates in IVF
treatment. At the assessment we will offer advice on appropriate
levels for caffeine and alcohol, and offer strategies for reducing
intake where required. Giving up smoking can be difficult for most
people. Hypnotherapy is very successful in assisting people to quit
smoking and is an excellent method to use if you are attempting to
conceive or are already pregnant as it does not replace the
cigarettes with other chemicals, making it a safer method in these
circumstances.
Stress
Reducing stress levels also
plays an important role in increasing IVF success rates. Having a
stress reduction plan which suits you as an individual is important.
This plan should include strategies and activities you can do at
home as well as more active interventions such as massage,
acupuncture, reflexology and hypnotherapy. Some people are more
affected by stress than others, so your stress reduction plan should
reflect your individual needs.
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