High Protein Diet In IVF

I have blogged before about the increasing evidence emerging that a high protein, low carb diet may be beneficial for women in IVF. Read more here. A further report has been produced this week finding the same thing.

Fight Hayfever With Acupuncture

Our delayed Spring has bought about one benefit- a later start for hayfever sufferers! However, this week, with warmer spring days, we have started to see hayfever symptoms creeping in. Acupuncture can really help manage your symptoms and banish those itchy eyes, runny noses and other annoying symptoms. If you’re someone that wishes to try a more natural way of managing your symptoms or are pregnant and unable to take normal medications, please think about trying a course of acupuncture. Patients report immediate benefits with acupuncture and treatment once or twice a week can reduce or rid you of symptoms and allow you to enjoy being outside without worrying about the consequences.

Call us to discuss in more depth how we may be able to help.

Poor Sleep Reduces Sperm Levels

A Danish study reporting in the American Journal of Epidemiology has found that poor sleep can affect sperm levels. Men who reported sleep problems could have more than a 25% reduction in sperm concentration. The men were asked whether they found it difficult to get to sleep, if they awoke during the night and how long it took to get back to sleep. Read more here. The story has also been covered in The Daily Mail.

This is the first time that a possible link has been found between sleep patterns and sperm. It comes at a time when researchers are asking why sperm counts across Europe have fallen so significantly during the past 25 years. The next step from this study is to find out whether stabilising the sleeping pattern or making sure males get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep will reverse the effect and bring sperm levels back up to normal.

Acupuncture has a great track record for promoting good quality, restful sleep. Many people say that this is one of the best side effects of their acupuncture treatment. By calming the mind and promoting relaxation, acupuncture encourages you to sleep better after your session. Many people come to us with insomnia or sleep disturbance and respond well to a short course of treatment.

If you would like to know more about how to promote good sperm health or get a better night’s sleep, please do get in touch.

The Latest IVF Technology – Time Lapsing Imaging

Time Lapsing Imaging has finally arrived as the latest cutting edge development in IVF treatment cycles. This technology, used for decades in other types of medicine, has been taken on by some IVF clinics and appears to be increasing their success rates.

Usually in IVF, the embryologists watch the embryos making assessments of their progress from day 1 through to day 3 or 5 and make a decision on which day Embryo transfer should occur based on that assessment. The difference that time lapsing imaging makes is that it provides continuous monitoring of the embryo, taking photos every few minutes. It is therefore easier to see crucial stages of embryo development. It is rather like watching a whole movie rather than a few stills from a film- it gives more of a complete picture and you won’t miss plot developments.

Some clinics use the Eeva test, such as Liverpool’s Hewitt Fertility Centre, and others such as Manchester CARE  use an embyoscope.

Click here for more on Eeva and to watch how it works, and click here for a demonstration from Manchester CARE.

More Research On Acupuncture Helping Alongside IVF

Further research has just been published on how acupuncture appears to improve the outcomes of women going through IVF. The goal of the study was to determine if acupuncture and moxibustion could increase the viability of an IVF procedure for patients who have had at least two prior failed IVF procedures. The acupuncture group had a 35.7% success rate whereas the sham group had a 10.7% success rate and the control group had a 7.1% success rate. Read more here.

If you’re about to embark on IVF and are wondering what may help, contact us to talk through what acupuncture may be able to offer you.

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