IVF Acupuncture Brisbane
Meet Michelle Blum - Naturopath and AHPRA registered Acupuncturist.
With over 24 years of clinical experience as an IVF Acupuncturist, Michelle understands how to best support women and couples wishing to improve their IVF outcomes.
Michelle’s clinic which has free onsite parking, is located in Moorooka, 8 kms south of the Brisbane CBD.
Michelle is registered with all the major health funds and is also a member of the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA), the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS) and the Australian Branch of Toyohari Association (ABTA).
Acupuncture for IVF Brisbane
Michelle Blum draws on more than two decades of experience to support women undergoing IVF and IUI with Acupuncture.
Her practice provides a calm, compassionate space designed to help you feel grounded, relaxed and supported through your IVF/IUI journey.
Acupuncture treatments are gentle, evidence-informed and tailored to your cycle.
So what does the latest evidence says about acupuncture and IVF ?
“Acupuncture can be a helpful, non-pharmacologic option to support emotional and physical well-being during IVF”
The most recent findings about Acupuncture and its efficacy in women undergoing IVF show that it can significantly reduce stress, anxiety and pain. This can no doubt make the IVF process feel more manageable and less daunting.
In the study which was held between 2019 to 2022 and involved 146 patients, Acupuncture was performed on the day of embryo transfer with additional sessions before transfer.
Whilst there is mixed evidence regarding pregnancy outcomes, Acupuncture most definitely has a role in making you feel more supported grounded and relaxed through the IVF process. it stand out.
Acupuncture for IVF: FAQ’s
Does Acupuncture increase IVF success ?
Although the current quality and quantity of research around Acupuncture and IVF requires further advancement, it has been established that Acupuncture does in fact appear to be beneficial in boosting pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF. No doubt the need for higher quality studies to further support this claim is warranted.
Another analytical review of the literature on Acupuncture and IVF found that Acupuncture improves the pregnancy rates of women undergoing IVF during controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation. In some trials, it was noted that Electro- Acupuncture provided even better outcomes.
One further study suggests that women who have gone through numerous unsuccessful cycles benefit the most when Acupuncture is added to their IVF treatment.
Another research paper states that having only two to three acupuncture treatments at the time of embryo transfer is not a sufficient enough intervention to improve birth outcomes. It noted that a higher number of treatments however, is associated with an improvement in the thickness of the endometrial lining, a reduction in stress, an overall increase in patient satisfaction and an increase in pregnancy and live birth rates. The authors of this review add that more studies are required to further clarify the role of Acupuncture in supporting IVF cycles.
How does Acupuncture help with IVF ?
Acupuncture has been shown to reduce stress and it is no secret that women undergoing the IVF process are under enormous strain and worry. It stands to reason that women undergoing IVF would benefit from having Acupuncture treatment for this benefit alone.
Another way in which Acupuncture may help with IVF is through improved blood flow through the vessels of the uterus. This of course leads to an increase in the strength of the lining of the uterus which may assist with the implantation of the embryo.
How many Acupuncture sessions are needed for IVF ?
Having weekly to fortnightly acupuncture treatments during your IVF cycle and ideally before your IVF cycle is recommended.
When should you start Acupuncture for IVF ?
In terms of the timing of your treatments, you would ideally start your Acupuncture treatments around 3 months before your planned IVF cycle. This is not however practical for everyone but the take-home message is to start as soon as you can.
