Male factor infertility accounts for approximately 20% of infertile couples and a contributing factor in 20-40% of couples trying to conceive. A semen analysis is collected when a couple has been trying to conceive to rule out any male factors. The main areas considered are sperm count (overall sperm in the ejaculate), motility (how far the […]
Acupuncture Improves Outcome of IVF with ICSI A study published in 2006 in the journal of Fertility and Sterility indicates luteal-phase acupuncture has a positive effect on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). 250 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI where divided into two groups. The first group receiving acupuncture according to […]
I have a confession. I absolutely love brussels sprouts and here is why! Not only do I love what they do for hormonal health and the metabolism of estrogen but also growing them. Here is a picture of what they look like in my garden right now. Many people are surprised to learn they grow […]
Tracking your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) is an easy and useful tool that can be done in a matter of minutes. Recording your basal body temperature can be extremely helpful to your acupuncturist to indicate if or when ovulation has occurred, how well the corpus luteum (progesterone) is functioning in the luteal phase, thyroid function and […]
As an acupuncturist, I often get a phone call from a soon to be mother very near, or past, her due date for an acupuncture induction treatment. They have heard from a friend that acupuncture helped them go into labor and avoid a medical induction. Yes, acupuncture can help induce labour. However, birth preparation treatments […]
160 patients were divided into two groups, one that received acupuncture before and after embryo transfer and the other did not. The clinical outcomes documented 42.5% patients in the acupuncture group became pregnant verses the 26.3% of patients in the non acupuncture group. With the conclusion that acupuncture is a useful tool for improving pregnancy […]
Acupuncture can be a useful tool for dealing with monthly Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) including breast tenderness, irritability, cramping, bloating, fatigue, headaches and painful periods. Acupuncture can also help regulate PMS for future cycles. So how can acupuncture help? Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments for PMS showed a 50% or better reduction of symptoms compared to […]
The Infertility Awareness Association of Canada is a great resource for women struggling with infertility. There are links to local support groups and tons of great information. The online published magazine Creating Families is full of informative articles. http://www.iaac.ca/en
Thank you Edmonton for voting in Vue Weekly’s Best Of Edmonton Edition 2014! It was a wonderful surprise to have found out that I was nominated! I would also like to congratulate Andrea House, an exceptional acupuncturist I had the pleasure of learning from early in university, as well my amazing colleague Kevin Larocque.
It seems that many couples are having harder times conceiving. Could it be the years of birth control that many women have been taking? Maybe, but none the less many couples are ending up in the fertility clinic for procedures such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). These treatments are often expensive [...]