A study published in Reproductive Biomedicine Online by Dr. Lee Hullender Rubin in 2015 showed that women who worked with an acupuncturist in the months leading up to and including an IVF cycle had better live birth rates.[1] Not just better pregnancy rates, but more importantly, those women were more likely to have healthier pregnancies and take home a baby. In her study, Dr. Hullender Rubin of Rosefinch Health describes “Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine”, which goes beyond just acupuncture sessions and includes diet advice, herbal prescriptions, supplements, massage, and lifestyle adjustments (all of which are offered at Lily + Horn both as part of acupuncture treatments, and in more in-depth single sessions with other certified experienced specialists). This combination doesn’t just improve fertility, it also often improves overall health, which can improve the health of a pregnancy.
Going through a fertility journey can be challenging in a way that changes our motivation for self-care. Instead of trying the latest diet fad or prioritizing a specific body shape or weight goal, the focus shifts to conceiving, which moves the motivation beyond self into creating another person. We often see patients making healthy changes to their diet and lifestyle more easily, whereas before they were trying to conceive, they struggled with those choices. With the right guidance, customized for each individual, especially advice from experienced, compassionate practitioners who specialize in fertility, patients attain a level of health and wellbeing they’ve never experienced before. It is not uncommon (and is expected) for sleep to improve, digestive issues to get better, energy levels to increase, and other health conditions to resolve while working with an acupuncturist.
There is no one size fits all, especially when it comes to fertility support. One of the strengths of Chinese medicine is that it works best when customized. Each patient at Lily + Horn receives customized acupuncture treatments, herbal formulas blended onsite for them, and targeted dietary and lifestyle advice. Treatments often change over time as the body responds and improves. This involves a level of awareness for the patient as well, to pay attention to their body between weekly acupuncture sessions, which often helps them become more aware of their choices and habits and how they are impacting their body. Lasting change results, which continues throughout their pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.
Many studies demonstrate that acupuncture helps improve outcomes when performed during IVF retrieval cycles and embryo transfer cycles.[2] [3] [4] [5] It also helps manage the intense stress and anxiety that can go along with struggling to conceive.[6] The potent combination of IVF treatments, which increase the odds of creating and transferring chromosomally healthy embryos, and using acupuncture to support each stage, improves pregnancy rates. But as demonstrated in Dr. Hullender Rubin’s study, working with an acupuncturist in the months leading up to and including IVF retrieval and transfer cycles helps those pregnancies turn into healthy babies and mothers. For patients who need more in-depth nutrition/meal planning, bodywork, and talk therapy to manage their journey, Lily + Horn also has an in-house nutritionist, massage therapist, and talk therapists.
[1] [1] Lee E Hullender Rubin 1, Michael S Opsahl 2, Klaus E Wiemer 2, Scott D Mist 3, Aaron B Caughey 3. Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015 Jun;30(6):602-12. Epub 2015 Feb 24.
[2] Yajing Zhong,1 Fanzhu Zeng,2 Wanjun Liu,1 Jing Ma,1 Yongge Guan,3 and Yang Song. Acupuncture in improving endometrial receptivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019; 19: 61.
[3] Ming Ho 1, Li-Chia Huang, Yin-Yi Chang, Huey-Yi Chen, Wei-Chun Chang, Tung-Chuan Yang, Horng-Der Tsai. Electroacupuncture reduces uterine artery blood flow impedance in infertile women. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Jun;48(2):148-51.
[4] Pinar Gursoy Guven 1, Yasemin Cayir 2, Bunyamin Borekci 3. Effectiveness of acupuncture on pregnancy success rates for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized controlled trial. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Mar;59(2):282-286.
[5] Ayu Cintani Kusuma 1, Nadia Oktari 1, Hasan Mihardja 1, Adiningsih Srilestari 1, Christina L Simadibrata 1, Andon Hestiantoro 2, Budi Wiweko 2, Naylah Muna 3 . Electroacupuncture Enhances Number of Mature Oocytes and Fertility Rates for In Vitro Fertilization. Med Acupunct. 2019 Oct 1;31(5):289-297.
[6] Caroline A Smith 1, Jane M Ussher, Janette Perz, Bridget Carmady, Sheryl de Lacey. The effect of acupuncture on psychosocial outcomes for women experiencing infertility: a pilot randomized controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Oct;17(10):923-30.