Acupuncture to Enhance Fertility
Kirsten Karchmer, MS, Med, LAC
October 19, 2005
[RESOLVE] Disclaimer: Your reliance on any information provided by a RESOLVE employee or volunteer, a third party host, or other visitors to the RESOLVE website and chats is at your own risk. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.
[RESOLVE] Hello to everyone who has joined us this evening! RESOLVE's chat on Acupuncture to Enhance Fertility is being hosted by Kirsten Karchmer, MS, Med, LAC, founder of the Cornerstone Clinic and Director of Clinical Operations and Research. Kirsten is a graduate of the Academy of Oriental Medicine of Austin, and currently serves on the faculty there as a clinical supervisor. Kirsten is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist specializing in women's health. Her interests include menopausal issues, infertility, child-birthing and labor assistance, and menstrual disorder
[Sara] When would someone expect to see an improvement after receiving natural treatments such as acupuncture and/or herbal therapies?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Sara, we expect to see dramatic changes in about three months. We demonstrate this improvement with the BBT chart.
[Guest95] Can acupuncture help severe male factor - < 2 mln count, 0% morphology, low motility?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Guest 95, with severe male factor infertility, we are trying to determine the cause of the very low numbers. If we can correctly diagnose the problem, treatments can be effective. You should see a positive shift in about a month, so the investment of trying is small. It could take a few months longer to get your counts into range, but I would recommend trying it for a month and rerunning your analysis.
[MariaDC] Should one be taking herbs with elevated Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels (34 years of age)?
[Kirsten Karchmer] MariaDC, with an FSH of 34 I would definitely recommend taking herbs under the guidance of a licensed herbalist who specializes in reproductive health. Herbs and acupuncture can be very helpful for lowering FSH by cooling the body during the follicular phase. You would see evidence of this in the Basil Body Temperature (BBT) chart by the temps coming well down into the 97 degrees.
[Elle] Does acupuncture help with advanced endometriosis?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Elle, as with all problems treated with Chinese medicine, the first step is to determine the cause of each individual’s problem. Once we determine the cause of the endometriosis for that patient, we have seen positive results. Endometriosis can take a considerable amount of time to treat.
[Lenny] How long does it take before you should "see" improvements in your cycle?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Lenny, we expect to see dramatic changes in about three months. Acupuncture can help infertility in many, many ways, the first thing we try to do is to regulate the menstrual cycle. We are looking for a 28 day cycle with no Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS), no cramps, moderate bleeding for four days and ovulation occurring on or around day 14.
[Jen] Does “treat” mean “cure”?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Jen, we use the term “correct the function” instead of “cure.” Yes, we have seen some, not all, patients' endometriosis eliminated.
[RESOLVE] RESOLVE's Family Building magazine, winter 2003 and autumn/NIAW 2004 issues, feature an article written on a similar subject. Please contact the RESOLVE Helpline, 888-623-0744 or info@resolve.org, for more information.
[GnC] Kristen - We started my wife with acupuncture this past weekend, and our doctor says that his treatment would take three sessions prior to IVF implantation. Is this a reasonable number of visits? Should we continue treatments after the transfer during the two-week-waiting?
[Kirsten Karchmer] GnC, IVF is a very expensive procedure and at my clinic we recommend three months of treatment before IVF in order get the mother in the very best shape possible for her IVF. When our patients follow our advice they have a dramatically higher pregnancy rate and more importantly a much higher actual birth rate.
[Elle] How can a Basil Body Temperature (BBT) chart show success from acupuncture?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Elle, when you look at a BBT chart you want to see a smooth line in the middle 97 degrees from around day 1 to day 10-12 when it should dip and then ascend within four days into another fairly smooth line in the 98 degrees. When women come to us for infertility, we rarely see this type of chart and we rarely see the type of menstrual cycle I described before. When acupuncture is being successful you will see changes in the direction I described.
[Mary in CT] Have herbs and acupuncture been successful in improving egg quality?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Mary in CT, I have seen amazing improvement in egg quality when given enough time (three-six months). I had a patient that had all of her eggs shatter during the insemination and four months later we had a successful pregnancy and she is about to deliver any day. The reason we need so much time is because the egg is germinated about three months before it is ovulated so any treatments that are done with less than three months won't impact those already germinated eggs.
[sfitz8047] What scientific studies have been conducted about acupuncture and infertility and what were the results?
[Kirsten Karchmer] sfitz8047, There have been a few well published studies in the United States regarding the success of combining IVF and acupuncture. One study had 120 women with half receiving acupuncture before and after their IVF and half just receiving IVF. The women who combined acupuncture with IVF had a 50% higher pregnancy rate.
[RESOLVE] RESOLVE has developed a "Questions to Ask" series designed to empower individuals to collect key information about their condition and treatment options. We encourage you to discuss these questions with your doctor and make sure you receive the necessary answers and information. If you are interested in receiving our Questions to Ask series, at no cost to you, please contact the RESOLVE HelpLine at 888-623-0744 or info@resolve.org and let them know what issue you are facing.
[Danielle] Kirsten, when you speak about drastic changes above, how frequent are the treatments?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Danielle, I recommend two times per week for the first three months. We use this interval because each week of the menstrual cycle, something specific is supposed to be happening. For example, week one is eliminating the blood, two is preparing for ovulation, etc. We have only one-two times per month to impact those functions, so we have to see the patients frequently.
[babesboo99] Can acupuncture help with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Babesboo99, Acupuncture can help women with PCOS to ovulate naturally. It can also help to regulate the menstrual cycle and improve digestion which is important for fertility because we know that often, women with PCOS ovulate when they are given drugs for diabetes.
[ajg] Can acupuncture be successful in IVF preparation without using herbs?
[Kirsten Karchmer] ajg, acupuncture can be helpful without herbs but I would say about 30-50% less effective. I have seen some patients respond extremely well with acupuncture only, but again if you are spending $15,000 for IVF, using herbs with help improve the outcome.
[RESOLVE] Transcripts for this chat will be available in approximately two weeks. Past chat transcripts such as "How Diet and Nutrition can Enhance Fertility" and "High FSH: Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy for Enhancing Egg Quality" are currently available. You can view or download past chats by visiting the "Chat" link on our website, www.resolve.org.
[jdill] I'm 43 and had 2 failed IVF’s. I underwent acupuncture for three months and was advised by fertility doctor that FSH level improved somewhat but was also told that with my poor ovarian reserve, I should consider donor eggs. Should I still continue acupuncture and what's the benefit?
[Kirsten Karchmer] jdill, I can't advise you whether or not to consider donor eggs, but with your age and FSH it may take too long to get your body ready for pregnancy with acupuncture. I know that is not what you might want to hear, but I would like to be honest.
[GnC] What types of herbs can my wife take for our Egg Retrieval (ER) and Embryo Transfer (ET) next week?
[Debby I.] What type of tea do you recommend?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Debbie and GnC, I cannot recommend any herbs for generalized purposes. We custom make our patients' herbal formulas every week based on their menstrual cycle and BBTs. Herbs are very powerful and can harm you when taken without the advice of a qualified practioner.
[RESOLVE] If you are interested in learning more about educational and supportive literature RESOLVE offers, please visit the RESOLVE website “Publications” link at www.resolve.org or contact the business office of RESOLVE, 301-652-8585 Ext. 100, Monday through Friday 9am-5pm ET.
[Amanda] My FSH was 135.5! Could acupuncture lower this?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Amanda, unfortunately, herbs might be able to lower it, but I would not expect it to be able to lower it anywhere near an acceptable range.
[Ben] My morphology is %0.5. Can acupuncture help? If so, to what degree and for how long are treatments needed?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Ben, you should see an acupuncturist who has a lot of experience in treating male factor infertility. Again, like I said before, do a month or two of acupuncture and herbs and retest to see what kind of progress you are making. People respond differently to our treatments so it makes it difficult to predict how long it might take to get your numbers into range.
The RESOLVE toll-free Helpline is available to answer your questions during business hours at 1-888-623-0744. Spanish HelpLine Hours are now available every first, second and third Thursday of the month from 7pm-10pm ET.
[Kali] I've been doing acupuncture and taking herbs almost a year and a half. My cycle normally runs between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 weeks. But my last cycle was 78 days. Nothing occurred in that time frame to throw my cycle off. My latest bloodwork showed my FSH at 8.8 and E2 at 35. Does this incredibly long cycle mean the acupuncture and herbal treatments are no longer effective?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Kali, good question. Some times we see a very similar situation in our clinic. It is strange because the patient seems to be doing fine and then their cycle goes way off. The strange thing is that fairly frequently, they get pregnant the next month. Unfortunately, I have no explanation for this. Also, does your acupuncturist have a lot of experience treating infertility? It does require some very specialized knowledge to be effective.
[Guest95] how can one find an acupuncturist specializing in male infertility?
[RESOLVE] Guest 95, there are a few resources we suggest to help you in your search for an acupuncturist. First, is a chapter of RESOLVE. You can locate the nearest chapter to you by visiting our website, www.resolve.org, and clicking the link "Local Chapters". They can offer you more localized feedback on referred professionals. Another resource is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. They provide referrals and have an online directory. Their information is 703-548-9004, http://www.nccaom.org/, or info@nccaom.org. Finally, you might receive a good referral by asking the doctors or nurses within a fertility clinic in your area.
[RESOLVE] RESOLVE provides bulletin boards on our website, www.resolve.org. This resource is full of peers sharing thoughts, asking questions, and supporting one another. Everyone is welcome to participate.
[Indy] Should I switch to a different acupuncturist if the needles are painful?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Indy, whether the needles hurt or not should not impact the efficacy of your treatments, but if it feels very uncomfortable to you I would consider changing acupuncturist. It certainly isn't necessary for acupuncture to hurt.
[AnnMM] I am 40 with a high FSH of 12.3 and a short, light cycle. When I have tried to take herbs, I have had consistent digestive problems, so my doctor is working with herbs on my digestion first. If I am unable to take herbs for fertility, will acupuncture alone help me? Also, do you have any recommendations for acupressure or supplements you recommend for high FSH and diminished ovarian reserve? Thanks!
[Kirsten Karchmer] Ann MM, it is a rare case that patients cannot tolerate correctly prescribed herbs. If your digestion is very, very weak I would recommend continuing with the acupuncture and using food therapy to strengthen your digestion. After all, it is from the food you eat that helps provide the nutrition for your egg development.
[GnC] Where specifically should the needles be placed for IVF? Example - Stomach only or elsewhere?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Gnc, the needles should seem like they are all over the body, some in the feet and hands, a few in the head, etc.
[Heff] I have been doing acupuncture for about 2 months now, I am on my 5th IVF cycle. We will be going in for retrieval next week sometime. I do acupuncture once a week. Which would be more helpful doing acupuncture before the retrieval or before the transfer?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Heff, you will want to have an acupuncture treatment both directly before and after the transfer.
[RESOLVE] RESOLVE offers a Member-to-Member Contact System. Members of RESOLVE have volunteered to be a contact for another member, to discuss specific topics they have experience with, such as "Endometriosis," "Alternative Therapies," "Domestic Adoption," "IVF," "Male Factor Infertility," "Miscarriage," etc. If you are a member of RESOLVE and would like to take advantage of this service, please contact the RESOLVE HelpLine 888-623-0744 or info@resolve.org. If you are not yet a member and would like to participate in this wonderful service you can join by visiting our website, www.resolve.org, using the link "Join or Renew Now," call our business office 301-652-8585, or contact the HelpLine at 888-623-0744.
[Quad] I have concern about my sperm and semen quality due to a spinal cord injury. Do you know any studies/success stories?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Quad, I have not worked with someone with a spinal cord injury, but I would expect similar results in elevating those numbers in about one to three months.
[Danielle] As a follow up to an earlier answer- Would you also suggest three months of acupuncture, two times per week prior to a (FET) frozen embryo transfer? I just started this week and plan on having FET in Dec 05.
[Kirsten Karchmer] Danielle, yes I would, because I would want to get your body in the best shape possible to help ensure the success of your transfer.
[RESOLVE] Kirsten, do you have any final thoughts you would like to share with our chat participants?
[Kirsten Karchmer] All, the main goal of Chinese medicine is to help get the body and the reproductive organs to peak performance before trying to get pregnant. We do this with herbs, acupuncture, lifestyle consulting, and lots and lots of nutritional consulting. Thank all of you for your great questions. I am so sorry that I did not get to answer all of them. I know that infertility is tremendously stressful and painful, but I can assure you that many, many women and men have greatly improved their fertility with Chinese Medicine. I wish you all the best of luck.
[RESOLVE] We would like to thank Kirsten Karchmer for her time and ongoing support of RESOLVE and for her dedication to this family building issue. We also send a special thank you to everyone for your participation and all of your great questions.
[RESOLVE] Providing the chat on Acupuncture to Enhance Fertility, hosted by Kirsten Karchmer, MS, Med, LAC, has been our pleasure. We hope you have found this information helpful. If you have further questions, please contact the RESOLVE Helpline at info@resolve.org or by calling 888-623-0744.
[jmh] Thank you!
[Jen] Thank you.
[Mary in CT] Thanks very much for your help.
[Quad] Thank you.
[MariaDC] Thank you for answering our questions.
Acupuncture to Enhance Fertility
Kirsten Karchmer, MS, Med, LAC
October 19, 2005
[RESOLVE] Disclaimer: Your reliance on any information provided by a RESOLVE employee or volunteer, a third party host, or other visitors to the RESOLVE website and chats is at your own risk. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.
[RESOLVE] Hello to everyone who has joined us this evening! RESOLVE's chat on Acupuncture to Enhance Fertility is being hosted by Kirsten Karchmer, MS, Med, LAC, founder of the Cornerstone Clinic and Director of Clinical Operations and Research. Kirsten is a graduate of the Academy of Oriental Medicine of Austin, and currently serves on the faculty there as a clinical supervisor. Kirsten is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist specializing in women's health. Her interests include menopausal issues, infertility, child-birthing and labor assistance, and menstrual disorder
[Sara] When would someone expect to see an improvement after receiving natural treatments such as acupuncture and/or herbal therapies?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Sara, we expect to see dramatic changes in about three months. We demonstrate this improvement with the BBT chart.
[Guest95] Can acupuncture help severe male factor - < 2 mln count, 0% morphology, low motility?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Guest 95, with severe male factor infertility, we are trying to determine the cause of the very low numbers. If we can correctly diagnose the problem, treatments can be effective. You should see a positive shift in about a month, so the investment of trying is small. It could take a few months longer to get your counts into range, but I would recommend trying it for a month and rerunning your analysis.
[MariaDC] Should one be taking herbs with elevated Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels (34 years of age)?
[Kirsten Karchmer] MariaDC, with an FSH of 34 I would definitely recommend taking herbs under the guidance of a licensed herbalist who specializes in reproductive health. Herbs and acupuncture can be very helpful for lowering FSH by cooling the body during the follicular phase. You would see evidence of this in the Basil Body Temperature (BBT) chart by the temps coming well down into the 97 degrees.
[Elle] Does acupuncture help with advanced endometriosis?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Elle, as with all problems treated with Chinese medicine, the first step is to determine the cause of each individual’s problem. Once we determine the cause of the endometriosis for that patient, we have seen positive results. Endometriosis can take a considerable amount of time to treat.
[Lenny] How long does it take before you should "see" improvements in your cycle?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Lenny, we expect to see dramatic changes in about three months. Acupuncture can help infertility in many, many ways, the first thing we try to do is to regulate the menstrual cycle. We are looking for a 28 day cycle with no Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS), no cramps, moderate bleeding for four days and ovulation occurring on or around day 14.
[Jen] Does “treat” mean “cure”?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Jen, we use the term “correct the function” instead of “cure.” Yes, we have seen some, not all, patients' endometriosis eliminated.
[RESOLVE] RESOLVE's Family Building magazine, winter 2003 and autumn/NIAW 2004 issues, feature an article written on a similar subject. Please contact the RESOLVE Helpline, 888-623-0744 or info@resolve.org, for more information.
[GnC] Kristen - We started my wife with acupuncture this past weekend, and our doctor says that his treatment would take three sessions prior to IVF implantation. Is this a reasonable number of visits? Should we continue treatments after the transfer during the two-week-waiting?
[Kirsten Karchmer] GnC, IVF is a very expensive procedure and at my clinic we recommend three months of treatment before IVF in order get the mother in the very best shape possible for her IVF. When our patients follow our advice they have a dramatically higher pregnancy rate and more importantly a much higher actual birth rate.
[Elle] How can a Basil Body Temperature (BBT) chart show success from acupuncture?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Elle, when you look at a BBT chart you want to see a smooth line in the middle 97 degrees from around day 1 to day 10-12 when it should dip and then ascend within four days into another fairly smooth line in the 98 degrees. When women come to us for infertility, we rarely see this type of chart and we rarely see the type of menstrual cycle I described before. When acupuncture is being successful you will see changes in the direction I described.
[Mary in CT] Have herbs and acupuncture been successful in improving egg quality?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Mary in CT, I have seen amazing improvement in egg quality when given enough time (three-six months). I had a patient that had all of her eggs shatter during the insemination and four months later we had a successful pregnancy and she is about to deliver any day. The reason we need so much time is because the egg is germinated about three months before it is ovulated so any treatments that are done with less than three months won't impact those already germinated eggs.
[sfitz8047] What scientific studies have been conducted about acupuncture and infertility and what were the results?
[Kirsten Karchmer] sfitz8047, There have been a few well published studies in the United States regarding the success of combining IVF and acupuncture. One study had 120 women with half receiving acupuncture before and after their IVF and half just receiving IVF. The women who combined acupuncture with IVF had a 50% higher pregnancy rate.
[RESOLVE] RESOLVE has developed a "Questions to Ask" series designed to empower individuals to collect key information about their condition and treatment options. We encourage you to discuss these questions with your doctor and make sure you receive the necessary answers and information. If you are interested in receiving our Questions to Ask series, at no cost to you, please contact the RESOLVE HelpLine at 888-623-0744 or info@resolve.org and let them know what issue you are facing.
[Danielle] Kirsten, when you speak about drastic changes above, how frequent are the treatments?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Danielle, I recommend two times per week for the first three months. We use this interval because each week of the menstrual cycle, something specific is supposed to be happening. For example, week one is eliminating the blood, two is preparing for ovulation, etc. We have only one-two times per month to impact those functions, so we have to see the patients frequently.
[babesboo99] Can acupuncture help with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Babesboo99, Acupuncture can help women with PCOS to ovulate naturally. It can also help to regulate the menstrual cycle and improve digestion which is important for fertility because we know that often, women with PCOS ovulate when they are given drugs for diabetes.
[ajg] Can acupuncture be successful in IVF preparation without using herbs?
[Kirsten Karchmer] ajg, acupuncture can be helpful without herbs but I would say about 30-50% less effective. I have seen some patients respond extremely well with acupuncture only, but again if you are spending $15,000 for IVF, using herbs with help improve the outcome.
[RESOLVE] Transcripts for this chat will be available in approximately two weeks. Past chat transcripts such as "How Diet and Nutrition can Enhance Fertility" and "High FSH: Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy for Enhancing Egg Quality" are currently available. You can view or download past chats by visiting the "Chat" link on our website, www.resolve.org.
[jdill] I'm 43 and had 2 failed IVF’s. I underwent acupuncture for three months and was advised by fertility doctor that FSH level improved somewhat but was also told that with my poor ovarian reserve, I should consider donor eggs. Should I still continue acupuncture and what's the benefit?
[Kirsten Karchmer] jdill, I can't advise you whether or not to consider donor eggs, but with your age and FSH it may take too long to get your body ready for pregnancy with acupuncture. I know that is not what you might want to hear, but I would like to be honest.
[GnC] What types of herbs can my wife take for our Egg Retrieval (ER) and Embryo Transfer (ET) next week?
[Debby I.] What type of tea do you recommend?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Debbie and GnC, I cannot recommend any herbs for generalized purposes. We custom make our patients' herbal formulas every week based on their menstrual cycle and BBTs. Herbs are very powerful and can harm you when taken without the advice of a qualified practioner.
[RESOLVE] If you are interested in learning more about educational and supportive literature RESOLVE offers, please visit the RESOLVE website “Publications” link at www.resolve.org or contact the business office of RESOLVE, 301-652-8585 Ext. 100, Monday through Friday 9am-5pm ET.
[Amanda] My FSH was 135.5! Could acupuncture lower this?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Amanda, unfortunately, herbs might be able to lower it, but I would not expect it to be able to lower it anywhere near an acceptable range.
[Ben] My morphology is %0.5. Can acupuncture help? If so, to what degree and for how long are treatments needed?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Ben, you should see an acupuncturist who has a lot of experience in treating male factor infertility. Again, like I said before, do a month or two of acupuncture and herbs and retest to see what kind of progress you are making. People respond differently to our treatments so it makes it difficult to predict how long it might take to get your numbers into range.
The RESOLVE toll-free Helpline is available to answer your questions during business hours at 1-888-623-0744. Spanish HelpLine Hours are now available every first, second and third Thursday of the month from 7pm-10pm ET.
[Kali] I've been doing acupuncture and taking herbs almost a year and a half. My cycle normally runs between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 weeks. But my last cycle was 78 days. Nothing occurred in that time frame to throw my cycle off. My latest bloodwork showed my FSH at 8.8 and E2 at 35. Does this incredibly long cycle mean the acupuncture and herbal treatments are no longer effective?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Kali, good question. Some times we see a very similar situation in our clinic. It is strange because the patient seems to be doing fine and then their cycle goes way off. The strange thing is that fairly frequently, they get pregnant the next month. Unfortunately, I have no explanation for this. Also, does your acupuncturist have a lot of experience treating infertility? It does require some very specialized knowledge to be effective.
[Guest95] how can one find an acupuncturist specializing in male infertility?
[RESOLVE] Guest 95, there are a few resources we suggest to help you in your search for an acupuncturist. First, is a chapter of RESOLVE. You can locate the nearest chapter to you by visiting our website, www.resolve.org, and clicking the link "Local Chapters". They can offer you more localized feedback on referred professionals. Another resource is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. They provide referrals and have an online directory. Their information is 703-548-9004, http://www.nccaom.org/, or info@nccaom.org. Finally, you might receive a good referral by asking the doctors or nurses within a fertility clinic in your area.
[RESOLVE] RESOLVE provides bulletin boards on our website, www.resolve.org. This resource is full of peers sharing thoughts, asking questions, and supporting one another. Everyone is welcome to participate.
[Indy] Should I switch to a different acupuncturist if the needles are painful?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Indy, whether the needles hurt or not should not impact the efficacy of your treatments, but if it feels very uncomfortable to you I would consider changing acupuncturist. It certainly isn't necessary for acupuncture to hurt.
[AnnMM] I am 40 with a high FSH of 12.3 and a short, light cycle. When I have tried to take herbs, I have had consistent digestive problems, so my doctor is working with herbs on my digestion first. If I am unable to take herbs for fertility, will acupuncture alone help me? Also, do you have any recommendations for acupressure or supplements you recommend for high FSH and diminished ovarian reserve? Thanks!
[Kirsten Karchmer] Ann MM, it is a rare case that patients cannot tolerate correctly prescribed herbs. If your digestion is very, very weak I would recommend continuing with the acupuncture and using food therapy to strengthen your digestion. After all, it is from the food you eat that helps provide the nutrition for your egg development.
[GnC] Where specifically should the needles be placed for IVF? Example - Stomach only or elsewhere?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Gnc, the needles should seem like they are all over the body, some in the feet and hands, a few in the head, etc.
[Heff] I have been doing acupuncture for about 2 months now, I am on my 5th IVF cycle. We will be going in for retrieval next week sometime. I do acupuncture once a week. Which would be more helpful doing acupuncture before the retrieval or before the transfer?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Heff, you will want to have an acupuncture treatment both directly before and after the transfer.
[RESOLVE] RESOLVE offers a Member-to-Member Contact System. Members of RESOLVE have volunteered to be a contact for another member, to discuss specific topics they have experience with, such as "Endometriosis," "Alternative Therapies," "Domestic Adoption," "IVF," "Male Factor Infertility," "Miscarriage," etc. If you are a member of RESOLVE and would like to take advantage of this service, please contact the RESOLVE HelpLine 888-623-0744 or info@resolve.org. If you are not yet a member and would like to participate in this wonderful service you can join by visiting our website, www.resolve.org, using the link "Join or Renew Now," call our business office 301-652-8585, or contact the HelpLine at 888-623-0744.
[Quad] I have concern about my sperm and semen quality due to a spinal cord injury. Do you know any studies/success stories?
[Kirsten Karchmer] Quad, I have not worked with someone with a spinal cord injury, but I would expect similar results in elevating those numbers in about one to three months.
[Danielle] As a follow up to an earlier answer- Would you also suggest three months of acupuncture, two times per week prior to a (FET) frozen embryo transfer? I just started this week and plan on having FET in Dec 05.
[Kirsten Karchmer] Danielle, yes I would, because I would want to get your body in the best shape possible to help ensure the success of your transfer.
[RESOLVE] Kirsten, do you have any final thoughts you would like to share with our chat participants?
[Kirsten Karchmer] All, the main goal of Chinese medicine is to help get the body and the reproductive organs to peak performance before trying to get pregnant. We do this with herbs, acupuncture, lifestyle consulting, and lots and lots of nutritional consulting. Thank all of you for your great questions. I am so sorry that I did not get to answer all of them. I know that infertility is tremendously stressful and painful, but I can assure you that many, many women and men have greatly improved their fertility with Chinese Medicine. I wish you all the best of luck.
[RESOLVE] We would like to thank Kirsten Karchmer for her time and ongoing support of RESOLVE and for her dedication to this family building issue. We also send a special thank you to everyone for your participation and all of your great questions.
[RESOLVE] Providing the chat on Acupuncture to Enhance Fertility, hosted by Kirsten Karchmer, MS, Med, LAC, has been our pleasure. We hope you have found this information helpful. If you have further questions, please contact the RESOLVE Helpline at info@resolve.org or by calling 888-623-0744.
[jmh] Thank you!
[Jen] Thank you.
[Mary in CT] Thanks very much for your help.
[Quad] Thank you.
[MariaDC] Thank you for answering our questions.
|
