Hazel Tree Holistic Health

Why choose Acupuncture as a treatment for Infertility?

Choosing acupuncture for your fertility enhancement is smart because:

• It is safe
• It works
• It can be used on it’s own, or as a support to IVF/ICSI/IUI treatments
• you want to be as healthy as possible before, during and after pregnancy

What problems related to infertility can acupuncture help with?

Since Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete system of health and does not view the body as many separate functioning systems, acupuncture and herbs can help with all issues surrounding fertility, such as those listed below:

• Endometriosis
• PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
• Blocked Fallopian Tubes
• Thin Endometrial Lining
• Emotional Blockages to pregnancy
• Fibroids
• Irregular Menstrual Cycles
• Lack of Ovulation
• High FSH
• High Prolactic levels
• Low Progesterone in the Luteal Phase (or shortened Luteal Phase)

Also, acupuncture and herbs can help our partners with the following problems:

• Low Sperm Motility
• Low Sperm Count
• Abnormally or Irregularly Shaped Sperm
• Low Libido
• Premature Ejaculation

How often will I need treatments? And for how long?

Frequency and length of treatment will vary from patient to patient based on factors such as:

• Is the patient currently undergoing Assisted Reproductive Therapies (ART)?
• Is the patient otherwise in good health?
• Does the patient respond well to Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapies?
• Is the patient willing to participate in his/her own health care?  i.e., diet changes, sleep pattern changes, exercise changes, etc.

For patients currently undergoing ART, we will try our best to work around the ART schedule and add as much benefit as possible at each stage, i.e., down regging, stimulation, egg retrieval and embryo transfer.

For patients preparing for ART or trying to conceive (TTC) naturally, it is requested that the patient sign an intention of continuous treatment for a minimum of 90 - 120 days with frequency ranging from 1 - 2 treatments a week and most often including herbal treatment.

Why 90 - 120 days?

Traditional Chinese Medicine states that we must treat women for at least three full menstrual cycles in order to be sure that changes are taking place.  Patients (or their husbands!) will most often notice a reduce in PMS symptoms, less pain with their periods (if pain was an issue), decrease in digestive changes around the menstrual cycle, decrease of abdominal bloating during ovulation or menses, an increased overall sense of wellness and best case scenario - a Pregnancy!

Also, if we look from a western medical perspective, folliculogenesis, or the growth of a dormant follicle to a dominate stage (that is reached at ovulation), lasts 120 days.  Spermogenesis also lasts an average of 70 - 100 days.  This means, that if we want to have an effect at the first stage of an egg or sperm’s life, we must start treatment and continue treatment throughout it’s respective lifespan.  The best effects following acupuncture and herbal medicine have been measured to fall in the fourth, fifth and sixth months following three months of treatment.  There remain cases that are more difficult and must be seen for longer amounts of time.  This will be discussed at the initial interview and an agreement will be made between the patient and the practitioner.

How qualified is Caitlin to treat my problems?

Caitlin has spent the last two years seeing an average of 80 patients a week within a western infertility clinic.  This experience has allowed her to expand upon her knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine as it relates to fertility and also work hand in hand with fertility experts, thus gaining a unique insight to the process of treating fertility with western medicine.  This combination makes patients feel at ease since Caitlin precisely understands the best moments at which to combine the two medicines for optimal results and understands the procedures that the patient must undergo at each stage.