Acupuncture Increases the Success Rate of IVF

For some women and couples in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the answer to their dream of having a child. Numerous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture improves IVF success rate. One large study found a 50% increase in success rate when acupuncture is done alongside IVF. IVF can take a significant emotional and financial toll so why not do everything possible to increase the chances of success?

Ideally, I like to start treating women at least three months prior to starting IVF in order to regulate their hormones and address any underlying issues that are contributing to infertility. It is not uncommon for women to become pregnant naturally during this time. If IVF is being done solely due to male fertility factors then one month of acupuncture prior to IVF would be ideal.

During the stimulation phase of IVF, I like to see women twice a week. Acupuncture works by increasing the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, reducing stress and anxiety (which can impact fertility) and addressing any side effects of the medications. Following stimulation, one acupuncture treatment prior to egg retrieval and one between retrieval and transfer is the standard of care.

Acupuncture before and after transfer of the embryo is essential. Acupuncture can take place 24-48 hours before and after transfer. Pre and post transfer acupuncture works to relax the uterus and calm any uterine spasms from the transfer process as well as reduce anxiety and calm stress. An acupuncture treatment one week following transfer supports implantation. In cases of sub-fertility, it is ideal to continue with acupuncture once a week for the first trimester to protect the pregnancy.

Many women undergo IUI prior to IVF and acupuncture works in a similar fashion to improve the chances of success. I generally see women once a week throughout the IUI process.

Know someone considering IVF? Please share this information with them!

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Adrenal fatigue in functional medicine is different from the Addison’s disease recognized by the conventional medicine not only from a testing perspective but also in terms of treatment and goals of care.

When your adrenal glands are overworked or dysfunctional, a condition known as adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion sets in, which in turn can set a cascade of disease processes into motion. One of the most common signs of adrenal burnout is feeling chronically fatigued.

The 4 most common reasons for adrenal fatigue and dysfunction are intense emotional stress, poor diet, chronic inflammation, and underactive thyroid.

The Kalish Method normalizes dysfunctional adrenals and restores normal adrenal function. It involves nutrition changes, supplements, and stress reduction. Healing the adrenals will have a great effect on the rest of the body including the thyroid.

The adrenal protocol calls sometimes for carefully replacing just a small portion of the exact level of the missing adrenal hormones which stimulates your body to begin producing it more naturally.

In May 2016 a research study published by two Mayo Clinic researchers confirmed the efficacy of the Kalish Method showing significant improvements in GI health and quality of life in the study participants. The study was based on Dr. Kalish’s model of Functional Medicine based on 25 years of successful clinical results. Graduates of The Kalish Institute include practitioners ranging from Dr. Mercola’s medical staff to Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic physicians.

A research team, including Daniel J. Kalish, founder of the Kalish Institute and Susanne M. Cutshall and Larry R. Bergstrom, currently practicing at Mayo Clinic, proudly release a study around functional medicine. The study shows a variety of stress, fatigue, and quality of life measures can be improved through functional medicine, a growing field utilizing lab-based supplement programs, including lifestyle and nutritional counseling.

The 28-week study assessed the effectiveness of a specific functional medicine approach for improving stress, energy, fatigue, digestive issues and quality of life in middle-aged women exposed to high-stress work environments. This method, known as the Kalish Method and taught exclusively through the Kalish Institute, provides a systems approach to chronic illness addressing the “whole person” rather than an isolated set of symptoms and restoring three key body systems: hormones, digestion, and detoxification.

The study, which was completed in April 2015, has been published in the May 2016 issue of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

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