Fertility Expertise at Calverley and Rawdon Acupuncture Clinic

"....The month that we were due to start IVF, I fell pregnant naturally. I am sure the acupuncture, herbs and fertility advice made a difference and I would specifically recommend the Calverley and Rawdon Acupuncture Clinic. Caroline is particularly experienced treating couples with fertility issues...."

Read about Caroline's success stories with fertility in a Yorkshire Evening Post article

Caroline has been in successful practice since 1997. She is now joined by Danielle who has a degree in Acupuncture and has been trained to use the acupuncture protocols used by the clinic. Over the past 13 years many hundreds of  women and men have been successfully helped to become parents. This includes people from all walks of life and with different stories to tell, often after a long and difficult fertility journey.

You will be offered treatment, help and advice by a committed practitioner. Support from someone with years of experience in working with all types of male and female fertility issues and in working alongside medical protocols. Up to date acupuncture treatments are constantly refined and reviewed following regular ongoing training and information from research.

A full fertility consultation will be undertaken at the first appointment. As well as looking at fertility history, issues relevant to the person as a whole are considered. The session will include lots of relevant information and handouts to maximise natural fertility and also address specific fertility issues, including nutrition, suitable supplements, weight, exercise, stress levels and general lifestyle issues. All these are important issues in fertility which can impact both positively and negatively. Small differences in our reproductive status and general wellness prior to conception can lead to bigger and more important differences for mother and baby later.

Caroline is a Zita West Affiliated Acupuncturist having undertaken fertility training with Zita West and her colleagues from the famous London Clinic. Danielle is trained to use the same protocols. They have access to the Clinic for specialist fertility and nutritional advice where this may be necessary, and access to a national network for consultation and general advice.

Infertility from a Chinese Medicine perspective

The Chinese medical treatment of fertility began long before the advent of modern technologies like clinical testing or IVF. There were no blood tests to measure oestrogen or progesterone levels, or ultrasounds to determine the development of follicles or presence of cysts. Instead, diagnosis and treatment were based upon detailed observation of external signs and symptoms. Observing clues given by the menses, basal body temperature [BBT] charts, as well as other physical symptoms and signs can point to factors underlying fertility. This offers a natural approach to fertility by listening to what is happening to the body.

Both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine can be very successful in addressing a wide variety of fertility issues. Together they offer a comprehensive approach to examining infertility issues. In modern practice, integrating information gained from clinical testing and IVF process can help further refine traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treatment, and improve clinical outcome.

This is reflected in the large numbers of people undergoing courses of treatment at the clinic. The popularity of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is also being increasingly supported by a large body of research [see links page].

It may be suitable for those who are finding it is taking a while to conceive and want to support their fertility naturally.  Equally it may work well for those who have undergone hospital testing, who come to the clinic aware of underlying physical factors, as well as those preparing for IVF, ICSI, IUI or taking medication such as clomid. Both men and women may benefit from fertility treatment available at Calverley and Rawdon Acupuncture Clinic.

 Research shows that the more you prepare for conception and pregnancy the better the outcome is likely to be. Not only for the health and happiness of you pregnancy but for the development and potential of your baby too!

“I had read about the benefits of acupuncture alongside IVF and made an appointment to see Caroline. I am now 13 weeks pregnant and believe that the acupuncture sessions alongside the IVF helped me to get pregnant. I found acupuncture very relaxing and think it is a very useful complement to IVF treatment”. LH.

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Endometriosis
• Luteal Phase Defect
• Unexplained infertility
• Menstrual cycle abnormalities
• Recurrent miscarriage
• Hyper Prolactinaemia
• Premature Ovarian Failure
• Elevated FSH
• Uterine Fibroids
• Ovulation issues
• Amenorrhoea
• Fallopian tube factors
• Male infertility factors
• Stress and infertility
• Other causes

There has been significant research which has found that fertility focused acupuncture treatment can have a positive affect on those trying for a baby and can actually aid the conception process:

• Regulates the menstrual cycle - help with irregular and long cycles, can encourage regularity after stopping contraceptives or after miscarriage. 
• Increases blood supply to the uterus- Stener-Victorin and colleagues in 1995 demonstrated that electro-acupuncture reduces the impedence to high uterine artery blood flow. This increased uterine blood flow is linked to endometrial receptivity and enhanced pregnancy rates.
• Increases thickness of endometrial lining- an important factor for the implantation and ongoing development of an embryo
• Improves function of ovaries to improve egg quality- chinese medicine can effectively improve ovarian and uterine function and other fertility markers through increasing the blood supply to the developing follicles and by doing so optimise nutrients and hormones available to them.
• Normalises hormonal and endocrine systems- for example, increases progesterone levels in the second half of the cycle. This progesterone now helps to maintain the endometrium after implantation. Yang and colleagues [2005] demonstrated a significantly higher pregnancy rate for acupuncture than clomid [65% vs 45%]
• Reduces stress and anxiety which reduces the hormones secreted that can hinder fertility - stress may play a key factor in infertility. Acupuncture has been found to reduce stress by releasing endorphins in the brain. Endorphins naturally suppress pain as well as affect hormones which influence the menstrual cycle.
• May significantly improve the success rate of IVF and IUI treatment -  research from 2008 quote an enhanced pregnancy rate of 65% in those having acupuncture whilst undergoing IVF.
• Decreases the chances of miscarriage - both recurrent miscarriage and miscarriage following IVF. Magarelli [2005] demonstrated a reduction of almost half the miscarriage rate in those receiving acupuncture.
• Helps with the implantation process - offering the best chance of a sustained pregnancy.
• Raised FSH levels- research has demonstrated acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine can reduce FSH levels leading to improved ovarian function. Treatment can be useful by itself or as a precursor to ART.
• Increases the size of the Graafian [lead] follicle- can increase the size of the dominant follicle which will go on to be the ovulatory follicle.

“It was my first experience of any 'alternative' medicine. I was immediately set at ease by the holistic approach to treatment and the attention given to our particular circumstances. Acupuncture gave me very positive energy throughout our hospital treatments, giving mental and physical strength to meet and accept any outcome. At the clinic I was given needle treatments and advised on Chinese herbs and diet throughout my IVF and later throughout my pregnancy. The results were that I got pregnant, had a very healthy pregnancy, again assisted by acupuncture techniques, and now have a delightful two year old”.

Acupuncture may offer a safe, natural therapy throughout all stages of pregnancy and may offer great support for minor ailments during pregnancy including: Morning Sickness, Breech Presentation and Labour Induction.