IVF cycle support
Choosing a specialized fertility acupuncturist ensures a targeted treatment approach that supports each IVF phase. Acupuncture integrated with IVF can enhance well-being, reduce stress, and promote reproductive health for optimal treatment response.
IVF and Integrative Acupuncture Treatment Support
PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL IVF CYCLE WITH ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT​
​
Couples and individuals planning a future IVF cycle should ideally begin preparatory acupuncture treatment three months before beginning their medicated cycle. Because ovarian follicles undergo a 90-120-day follicular development period before they mature for ovulation, and sperm require a period of at least 90 days for maturation, we generally recommend three months of treatment before IVF stimulation to maximize egg and sperm quality, but it truly is never too late to start.
​
Chinese medicine can greatly help to prepare the body in these areas, where western medicine offers few treatment options. Improving the quality of the parents' eggs and sperm before IVF is our main focus to help achieve a successful pregnancy and decrease the risk of early miscarriage.
​
For women, treatment is directed toward improving egg quality and hormonal balance and preparing an ideal uterine environment for implantation. We accomplish this through improving ovarian functioning, regulating reproductive hormones, increasing blood circulation to the ovaries and uterus, and improving the quality of the follicular fluids that nourish the developing eggs. Pre-existing menstrual irregularities and other factors affecting fertility can be treated during this time to maximize natural reproductive health. The better prepared the body and mind are for the procedure ahead, the greater the chance in achieving a healthy pregnancy through IVF.​
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT DURING THE IVF CYCLE
​
Acupuncture treatment during the IVF cycle helps to increase a woman’s appropriate response to hormonal stimulation. Treatment varies depending on the phase of IVF: down-regulation, ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, uterine preparation, and embryo transfer. The Fertility Clinic at Practice Longevity performs acupuncture treatments designed to support the different phases of IVF while decreasing the side effects often experienced from IVF medications. ​
​
ACUPUNCTURE PRE AND POST-EMBRYO TRANSFER
​
We understand that there is always uncertainty about the exact scheduling of the embryo transfer until after egg retrieval, and sometimes even later. We do our very best to accommodate our patients' treatment schedules to allow for acupuncture to be used within the recommended time frames. This means we will schedule weekends, off days, and hours for as-needed pre and post-transfer treatments.​
CONTINUING ACUPUNCTURE AFTER IVF: SUPPORTING EARLY PREGNANCY
​
Treatment with Chinese medicine should be continued throughout the first trimester to protect early pregnancy and prevent miscarriage. Chinese medicine has a long history of treating underlying factors that can lead to miscarriage. At The Fertility Clinic, we continue to see women once weekly through the 14th week of pregnancy, after which treatment often decreases to bi-weekly or once monthly.
ABORM Certified Acupuncturist
REPRODUCTIVE ACUPUNCTURE SPECIALIST
The Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine certification ensures that your reproductive acupuncturist has undergone advanced training in western and eastern reproductive medicine and treatment.
ADVANCED FERTILITY TRAINING
ABORM certification ensures extensive training in biomedicine, reproductive anatomy, physiology, pathology and differential diagnosis as well as ART procedures and medications, recurrent miscarriage and pregnancy.
EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENT
Our approach to patient care is informed by the latest research and best clinical practices. ABORM membership requires an ongoing recertification process, staying abreast of current research and developments in integrative fertility medicine.
COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATIVE CARE
Having a wealth of knowledge in Chinese and Western fertility medicine, our acupuncturist can help coordinate care between these two disciplines. We strive to create collaborative interdisciplinary communication with your fertility team to help advance your goal of a successful pregnancy.
Our Practitioner
Erika Foy
L.Ac., MSOM, FABORM
Erika has been specializing in holistic and integrative fertility care since she founded The Fertility Clinic at Practice Longevity in 2004. Erika holds a Master of Science degree in Chinese Medicine and is board certified by the Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine with extensive training in both Eastern and Western fertility medicine.