| After IVF egg retrieval, one way to increase the | | | | Experts recommend starting acupuncture treatments |
| success of your IVF cycle is to have several | | | | at least two months before the IVF cycle so your |
| embryos transferred into your uterus. The more | | | | body can be prepared. But even if you've never had |
| embryos are transferred, the higher the chances that | | | | acupuncture before, it wouldn't hurt to start late and |
| one of them will implant and grow into a healthy | | | | have your first session before the egg retrieval. Try |
| baby. However, so increases your chance of a | | | | to find an acupuncturist who specializes in working |
| multiple birth pregnancy - your doctor will be your | | | | with IVF patients so that you can receive a tried and |
| best advisor in this regard. But embryo quality is | | | | tested protocol that works. |
| largely influenced by the egg's quality, which in turn is | | | | Stress reduction |
| determined by the environment in the woman's body | | | | Stress can also affect the quality and quantity of |
| and the integrity of its DNA. Not all retrieved eggs | | | | your eggs, but it can be difficult to stay relaxed |
| are healthy enough to survive the fertilization process | | | | during this time. Do whatever it takes to make the |
| and become embryos. Although there is not much | | | | days leading up the retrieval more relaxing and |
| you can do to improve the integrity of your eggs' | | | | manageable. Take naps, indulge in a full-body |
| DNA, there are some things you can do now to | | | | massage, and eat your favorite healthy and nurturing |
| increase the success of your egg retrieval. | | | | foods. Be good to yourself and be gentle to your |
| Acupuncture | | | | body during this time. |
| Acupuncture is among the well-studied and | | | | Visualization |
| highly-recommended complements to IVF and other | | | | According to the law of attraction, you can obtain |
| ARTs. Apart from reducing stress and minimizing the | | | | your heart's desire by simply visualizing it. When |
| side effects of fertility drugs, acupuncture is known | | | | you're feeling stressed or anxious, take a deep |
| to increase the number of eggs for retrieval. If the | | | | breath, close your eyes, and imagine your ovaries |
| ovaries and the follicles receive a constant, steady | | | | and the follicles it contains. Picture twenty follicles |
| supply of nutrients and hormones, the eggs will | | | | swelling up to the right size, each housing a tiny but |
| flourish. This is what acupuncture aims to do. Women | | | | mature egg, healthy and ready to be fertilized. See |
| who have poor blood circulation to the uterus and | | | | them getting fertilized in a petri dish and being |
| ovaries respond better to fertility drugs when | | | | incubated until they are ready to be transferred into |
| acupuncture is done with the IVF cycle. Acupuncture | | | | your uterus. Imagine one of these embryos attaching |
| can also treat a condition called unilateral ovarian | | | | itself to your uterine wall, and imagine your joy at |
| deficiency, where one ovary has fewer and smaller | | | | receiving a positive pregnancy test. While visualization |
| follicles than the other. Through a special protocol, | | | | won't increase the number of mature eggs per se, it |
| acupuncture can facilitate the growth of the smaller | | | | will foster a positive attitude about your cycle, ease |
| follicles so they can "catch up" with the larger ones | | | | you fears, and make you calm as you approach the |
| and yield more eggs during the retrieval. | | | | big day. |