One of the most important lesson that I have learnt from my mentor in IVF is that IVF is equivalent to an exam. The likelihood of passing an exam (aka. achieve a pregnancy) is increased if you are prepared for it. Half of the battle is won not during the battle itself but during the preparation for the battle.
As a seasoned student (I have been through many exams including my professional exams), I could not agree more. A famous Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher, Sun Tzi (600 B.C.), who authored the famous book ‘the Art of War’ had clearly illustrated and emphasized the importance of being ‘prepared’ as the secret of a victory.
Therefore, before you embark on your journey of IVF, would you join the wining team by preparing yourself for the battle?
Restoring balance
The benefits of acupuncture in IVF
In recent years, acupuncture has become an increasingly popular complementary treatment for those suffering from infertility, especially women undergoing IVF treatment. But what’s behind the buzz and does it actually work? Let’s examine the known facts.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and healing method that has been used for thousands of years across the world to treat a variety of ailments. It involves the gentle insertion of thin, sterile needles that are inserted into the skin at strategic points of the body to provide stimulation.
According to TCM practitioners, there are more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body, which are connect to 14 major pathways or meridians. These meridians conduct “qi,” which is a form of energy or life force that is believed to regulate our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance. Poor health habits can disrupt the proper flow of qi, leading to various ailments, including pain and infertility.
Benefits for those undergoing IVF
As acupuncture works on the principle of restoring balance, here’s how it can help:
Reduces stress – By lowering the levels of stress hormones released into the blood stream, acupuncture can help restore the body’s hormonal and neurochemical balance.
Improves blood flow – Stimulation at strategic points can increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, which increases chances for the egg to be implanted, nourished and carried to term.
Relieves aches – By alleviating existing aches and pains, acupuncture can provide further relief and stress reduction.
Relieves anxiety – By helping to treat conditions like anxiety and insomnia, which can have devastating long-term effects to wellbeing, acupuncture helps restore the body’s delicate balance.
Few side effects – Unlike some forms of Western treatment, which can be invasive and causes undesirable side effects, acupuncture has relatively few to no side effects other than causing bruising at the needle site.
Scientific research
Some experts in complementary medicine have cautioned that the positive effects of acupuncture may actually be due to a “placebo effect” that is caused by patients expecting acupuncture to work. To understand the phenomenon better, some scientific studies have been carried out to review the benefits of acupuncture in infertility treatments.
One study, jointly-conducted by the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington and the University of Amsterdam, Holland, compared the results of needle acupuncture in women receiving IVF, against women who received fake treatments and no treatments at all.
The results were very positive, as according to the study, “IVF with acupuncture increased the odds of pregnancy by 65% (according to early evidence on ultrasound), increased the odds of ongoing pregnancy by 87% (according to ultrasound evidence of pregnancy at 12 weeks) and increased the odds of a live birth by 91% compared with IVF on its own.”
Conclusion
The researchers concluded that their results suggest that, “Acupuncture given with embryo transfer, improves rates of pregnancy and live birth in women who are undergoing in vitro fertilisation.” While their findings are significant and clinically relevant, the researchers consider them to be “somewhat preliminary” and call for further investigation in the link between pregnancy rates and the effect of acupuncture.
With these encouraging facts and figures, there is no wonder why more and more couples are choosing to include acupuncture in their infertility treatment routine. If you’re interested to find out more about using acupuncture as a complementary form of treatment, don’t hesitate to bring it up to your doctor.
Getting it just right
Exercise and how it affects pregnancy rates
We all know that staying physically active is beneficial to our overall health and wellbeing. But did you know that the right amount of exercise can also improve your chances of conceiving? Here’s why.
Firstly, regular exercise is known to help optimise the reproductive system. It does this by stimulating the endocrine glands, which releases hormones that help your eggs to grow. Secondly, exercise can enhance your metabolism and circulation, which in turn optimises your egg production.
Thirdly, exercise can help you manage or achieve an ideal body weight. Since being overweight or obese can impair fertility in both men and women, weight management is widely known and used to prevent and treat infertility. And lastly, regular workouts also help to relieve stress, which in itself can inhibit fertility.
While regular moderate exercise can have positive effects on fertility and conception, the opposite is true for vigorous exercise. According to a 2009 study in Human Reproduction, and a Harvard study of elite athletes, vigorous exercise is linked to reduced fertility and pregnancy rates. Therefore, when it comes to exercise and fertility, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
While there are no guidelines for women to follow when it comes to workout intensity for fertility, there is a way to strike a balance. Studies have shown that women who exercised moderately for at least 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of infertility due to ovulation disorders. Evidence also suggests that moderate regular exercise can positively influence assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. But what is the right amount of exercise?
If you’re already at your ideal weight, it is safe to stick to your regular routine, but keep it to half an hour maximum per day. Studies had shown that vigorous aerobic exercise of more than 4 hours per week reduces the chance of pregnancy in women going through IVF. If your cycle is still irregular and you haven’t conceived after a few months, you might want to cut back on the intensity of your workouts. However, if you’re underweight, focus on gaining weight and increasing your body fat to the recommended amount of over 12%. If you exercise regularly, cut back on the frequency and opt for a less vigorous routine.
Meanwhile, if you’re overweight, work on cutting down on your calories with healthy eating. You can also increase your exercise routine gradually to achieve your ideal weight. Lastly, if you’re undergoing fertility treatments, it is best to avoid high-impact exercises, as they can be detrimental to your ovaries, which have been enlarged by fertility drugs.
Still have doubts on where to begin? Before you step up your exercise routine, start by speaking to your doctor. If you’ve been having trouble conceiving, your doctor will need to assess your condition first. This includes your age, cycles, ovulatory status, the condition of your uterus and tubes, as well as your partner’s sperm. Once certain conditions have been identified or ruled out, your doctor will be able to advise you on whether the underlying cause may be too little or too much exercise.
Dr Helena Lim 