Highland House
165 The Broadway
London SW19 1NE
Our signature Fertility Acupuncture program is designed to enhance your natural fertility and support IVF treatment for higher success rate.
Introducing our “Fertility Acupuncture for IVF Success” program, a part of Dr Ryu’s FastTrack Fertility Solutions. If you are considering IVF or are currently undergoing treatment, this program can be a valuable addition to your fertility journey.
Our aim is to enhance your chances of success and help you navigate this transformative experience with greater ease and confidence.
The use of acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF treatment has gained momentum since the publication of a systematic review by Manheimer and colleagues. A growing body of evidence suggests that integrating acupuncture into your IVF cycle may offer a greater chance of success. Studies have shown that incorporating acupuncture into IVF treatment can increase pregnancy rates by enhancing the brain-ovary connection and optimizing the body’s response to hormonal signals. Acupuncture also helps prepare your body for IVF by calibrating the stress response and mitigating the emotional and physical stress associated with hormonal fluctuations. Our clinic provides specialized support to couples undergoing fertility treatment, utilizing acupuncture protocols that have been validated in clinical trials to improve IVF outcomes. By combining the time-honored practice of acupuncture with cutting-edge research, we aim to optimize your fertility journey and increase your chances of success.
In order to obtain the greatest benefits, we recommend planning ahead and starting treatment at least 3 months before your IVF cycle is due to begin. Oogenesis and spermatogenesis cycles are approximately this long and it is desirable to begin treatment at the start of these cycles. Acupuncture treatment over this period of time optimizes the signalling system in the body and realigns the HPO (Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary) axis, the invisible network of hormonal relationships governing our reproductive status.
Importance of Appropriate Dosages
Research indicates that the effectiveness of acupuncture may be dose-dependent, that is a sufficient number of acupuncture treatments are required over an adequate period of time. The number of acupuncture treatments given before the start of the IVF process is an important factor in determining the likelihood of success. As a guideline, we recommend 10-12 visits spanning two to three months before embryo transfer. More treatment might be required depending on your condition/constitutions and previous/present response to IVF.
PCOS with high LH
We recommend that those patients with PCOS with high LH levels and those with an increased chance of developing OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation) or having had OHSS previously, schedule additional treatments whilst undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation.
In the down-regulation phase of IVF, the aim of the treatment is to alleviate any side effects of the medication such as hot flushes, headaches and mood swings and to assist in the thinning of the uterine lining.
During the up-regulation phase, the focus is on stimulating the blood supply to the ovaries and uterus to aid both follicle growth and the thickening of the endometrial lining. The treatment frequency depends on the type of assisted conception protocol and your response to it.
Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture at the time of transfer can significantly increase the chance of success with implantation and full-term pregnancy. 2 treatments are given before and after embryo transfer.
2 Treatments are given during 2-week-wait period after embryo transfer to support implantation and maintain hormonal signal and healthy pelvic blood flow. Following a positive pregnancy test, we recommend continuing acupuncture for the first few weeks of pregnancy, while many patients choose to receive treatment until 12 weeks of pregnancy.