Frozen embryo transfer acupuncture
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1. Overview
Most often a couple will have some embryos frozen from a previous IVF cycle, which they can then use later. A frozen embryo is cheaper and often requires less drugs than a standard IVF cycle.
2. When should you start having acupuncture before IVF
Research has shown that you should have at least 9 sessions of acupuncture before the embryo transfer.
Acupuncture can help improve the success rates of frozen embryo transfers. I help a lot of women do through this process with good results.
3. Treatment frequency during FET
It is recommended to have weekly acupuncture sessions before the frozen embryo transfer.
On the day of the embryo transfer, when the fertilised embryo is transferred back into the woman, research has shown its ideal to have acupuncture treatment directly before and after the transfer. That often means twice in one day, or late the previous night if the IVF clinic has booked the embryo transfer first thing in the morning.
4. Treatment during the two weeks wait
Its recommended to have acupuncture at least twice during the 2 week wait until you take the pregnancy test. This helps with implantation of the embryo into the uterus wall, blood flow to the uterus and any anxiety that a woman may have.
5. Acupuncture in pregnancy
If the pregnancy is via IVF or the couple have had repeated miscarriages after falling pregnant naturally, I recommend having acupuncture treatment until at least 20 weeks. Again, this is the minimum length I would recommend. Having acupuncture throughout the whole pregnancy is ideal. Treatment at my acupuncture clinic can then be restarted at 35 weeks to help prepare the mother for labour.
If the couple experienced repeated IVF failures and have finally fallen pregnant using IVF, or have a low AMH or the woman is over the age of 40, I would recommend having acupuncture throughout the whole pregnancy. The woman will be often be weaker and the pregnancy precious, so every effort needs to be utilised to maintain the pregnancy.
6. Explanation video
Watch my animated video below which explains how frozen embryo acupuncture treatment can help increase the success rates of you having a baby.