About 70% of my work is to do with fertility and over half of that is to support IVF. I believe acupuncture can make a difference to building thick uterine linings which encourages implnatation to occur, and helps to develop follicles in women being stimulated in IVF. 
 
There are a number of well-known research studies that have concluded that having acupuncture during IVF is helpful and may increase implantation rates and live births e.g. Paulus (see my fertility page for details). Another new US study looks likely to back up these previous findings.

Read more on the Chinese Medicine Times website.

Look at these photos from the New Scientist, taken by accident of a 45 year old woman ovulating. They show that the release of the egg is not explosive as previously thought but a gentle, timed event.

Also check out this video clip of ovulation occurring:

A large study recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has found that too much caffeine during pregnancy can double the risk of miscarriage. Women at risk of too much caffeine were consuming two cups of brewed coffee or four cups of black tea a day or more. 12.5% of women who consumed no caffeine miscarried wheras 24.5% of women who consumed 200mg of caffeine or more a day miscarried.

The study does not make recommendations but no caffeine in pregnancy would seem to be advisable.

Two exciting conferences are coming up about Fertility and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome .

Verity, the self-help group supporting women with PCOS, is hosting their annual conference in London on 26th April 2008. Speakers include author Collette Harris who will speak on the emotional aspects of the condition and afternoon workshops are offered on fertility, excess hair and nutrition and skin management. Price between £28-32. Visit verity-pcos.org.uk for more details and booking advice. 

It is National Infertility Day on 19th July 2008 and there is a conference being hosted in London for patients and those working in the infertility field. It’s a very full and exciting programme and speakers include Professor Adam Balen from LGI talking about PCOS and infertility. Workshops are offered on complementary therapies, male and female infertility, emotional aspects of infertility, donor issues and pick up on hot topics such as In Vitro Maturation (IVM), Single Embryo Transfers and the Postcode Lottery. At only £15 to attend, it is definitely worth considering. Check out www.nationalinfertilityday.com.

A new US study has compared seven trials which used acupuncture to support IVF and found that having acupuncture treatment on the day of the embryo transfer could increase the chance of a positive pregnancy rate by 65%.

Read the story in The Independent or the British Medical Journal.

I can advise you about when to have treatment and how this may help you.

New research advises men trying to conceive who have damaged sperm to have intercourse more frequently, according to a report on BBC News.

Anyone thinking of having a baby or who is trying to conceive should read Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnant. She offers clear, practical advice in a sensible and supportive way.
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Acupuncture and hypnosis are promising approaches to relieve pain during labour and delivery claims a study that reviewed the most current scientific evidence of complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour.
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Exiting developments in IVF could change the face of future IVF.
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'Natural IVF' is beginning to be increasingly talked about as a more natural way for some couples to access fertility assistance but without all the drugs. This could become a popular and cheaper option for couples paying to privately access IVF and allows repeated courses of IVF to occur more quickly as the body does not become so depleted by powerful fertility drugs.
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As the year draws to an end and I am thinking about beginnings I am keen to consider the needs of those patients whom are trying to have a baby. “It’s like a game of snakes and ladders”, claims one patient describing her monthly disappointment that she’s not pregnant. Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular with those whom are interested in promoting their fertility. There has been lots of press coverage about acupuncture being used to help couples trying to conceive. Research suggests that acupuncture can help with a variety of gynecological conditions such as painful periods, endometriosis, polycystic ovaries, amenorrhea (having no periods e.g. after coming off the pill) and with IVF. I currently treat women and their partners for all these issues and have had some encouraging results.
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Results of a new study from New Zealand measuring outcomes of midwives using acupuncture on pregnant women.
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