You may have heard that acupuncture can increase the success rate of IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). How exactly does it help? Research has shown that there are several factors.
1) Increased blood flow to the uterus- this can result in thicker endometrial (uterine) lining as well as a higher quality lining. Although there is some debate about exact numbers, usually if the lining is less than 6mm it is considered "too thin". Lining just before ovulation should be about 8-13 mm thick- and will continue to get thicker up until your period begins. Quantity isn't the only important factor- the quality is also vital. Research has shown that healthy endometrial linings have three distinct layers; without these three layers there can be problems with implantation. If conception does not take place, the "trilaminar (three layered) appearance" usually disappears within 48 hours of ovulation.
2) Reduction in stress hormones such as prolactin and cortisol- when these hormones are present at elevated levels, your normal "healthy" hormones can't function normally.
3) Decrease in smooth muscle contractions following embryo transfer- small contractions in the uterine musculature could make implantation less likely. This is the same line of reasoning Reproductive Endocrinologists use when deciding whether to give their patients a low dose of Valium prior to transfer- many times a relaxed mind= relaxed body.
4) Impact FSH, LH, and Estradiol and Progesterone levels- studies have shown that FSH can be lowered and other hormones are brought closer to normal range after a course of acupuncture.
5) Increase endorphin production, thereby modulating the release of GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone)- endorphins are a compound produced by the pituitary gland which act as natural pain relievers as well as produce a feeling of well being. Research has shown that they have an effect on GnRH- the hormone responsible for production of FSH and LH.
Clinically, I find that women undergoing IVF cycles experience less anxiety and stress overall as well as notice that unpleasant side effects of medications are decreased. In addition, if women are able to take herbs for 1-3 months prior to an IVF cycle, I have seen more eggs retrieved and thicker endometrium.
If you are interested in getting acupuncture in conjunction with your IVF cycle, please contact me for more information via my website: http://www.susanwallmeyer-acupuncture.com/
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Just One More Reason To Love Chocolate- Stretch Mark Prevention
Raw cacao (cocoa) beans are separated into two parts when processed for making chocolate bars: the cocoa powder and the cocoa butter. And as I learned in a chocolate seminar a few years back (yes, I love chocolate so much that I take classes on it!), the percentage you often see on a bar of chocolate refers to the amount of cocoa powder and cocoa butter in the bar. The rest is sugar and other ingredients. What you can't tell from the label, however, is the amount of cocoa butter. This is important because the higher the grade of chocolate (the more delicious), the higher the ratio of cocoa butter to cocoa powder. Cocoa butter is what makes chocolate melt in your mouth but not in your, eh, cabinet- it is solid at room temperature but melts easily at about 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because one of the best things to prevent stretch marks in pregnancy is raw cacao butter. Just take a small piece of the butter and rub it over the skin to moisturize naturally. As an added benefit, you will smell faintly of some really high-quality chocolate :-). Cacao butter also has antioxidant properties due to tocopherols as well as certain polyphenols that suppress free radicals and soothe skin irritation.
After using the cacao butter to moisturize, naturally you might find yourself craving a chocolate bar due to the intoxicating aroma. A tiny piece of dark chocolate is fine, but if you are trying to avoid all refined sugars, instead you can try snacking on raw cocoa beans. They can taste a bit bitter the first time you try them, but after a few you will love the smooth taste and crunchy texture. They can also be used in smoothies, shakes, and cooking. Cocoa Beans also contain flavonoids, which promote healthy cholesterol levels and act as antioxidants.
Enjoy!
After using the cacao butter to moisturize, naturally you might find yourself craving a chocolate bar due to the intoxicating aroma. A tiny piece of dark chocolate is fine, but if you are trying to avoid all refined sugars, instead you can try snacking on raw cocoa beans. They can taste a bit bitter the first time you try them, but after a few you will love the smooth taste and crunchy texture. They can also be used in smoothies, shakes, and cooking. Cocoa Beans also contain flavonoids, which promote healthy cholesterol levels and act as antioxidants.
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Nausea in Pregnancy
This week, my sister officially announced her first pregnancy- and it's going to be twins! We are all so excited for her. She has been getting advice from friends and family left and right, of course including me. Here is my recommendation for nausea during pregnancy- often referred to as morning sickness, even though it can happen at any time of the day.
Nausea is generally experienced when your blood sugar is low. Hands down, the most reliable way to deal with it is to eat something, even though food may be the last thing you want to think about! Whether or not you feel hungry, take breaks throughout the day to eat small, healthy snacks at least every 2 hours. Nuts, fruit, or a few handfuls of popcorn are all good options. To prevent nausea in the morning, it's a good idea to keep a bland food such as crackers by the bed to eat if you happen to wake during the night. Also have a small, protein rich snack right before bedtime.
You may have also heard about acupuncture for nausea- in my experience, it really does help! One acupressure point you can stimulate yourself is located on your inner wrists. If you make a fist, you can usually see two tendons on the inner forearm near the wrist- the point is in between these tendons, about 2 inches up from the wrist crease. Using your thumb to press this point with moderate pressure can help alleviate nausea.
These recommendations can usually manage mild to moderate nausea quite well. If you have severe nausea leading to frequent vomiting, consult your obstetrician.
If you're interested in trying acupuncture for nausea in pregnancy, please contact me via my website at http://www.susanwallmeyer-acupuncture.com/ .
Nausea is generally experienced when your blood sugar is low. Hands down, the most reliable way to deal with it is to eat something, even though food may be the last thing you want to think about! Whether or not you feel hungry, take breaks throughout the day to eat small, healthy snacks at least every 2 hours. Nuts, fruit, or a few handfuls of popcorn are all good options. To prevent nausea in the morning, it's a good idea to keep a bland food such as crackers by the bed to eat if you happen to wake during the night. Also have a small, protein rich snack right before bedtime.
You may have also heard about acupuncture for nausea- in my experience, it really does help! One acupressure point you can stimulate yourself is located on your inner wrists. If you make a fist, you can usually see two tendons on the inner forearm near the wrist- the point is in between these tendons, about 2 inches up from the wrist crease. Using your thumb to press this point with moderate pressure can help alleviate nausea.
These recommendations can usually manage mild to moderate nausea quite well. If you have severe nausea leading to frequent vomiting, consult your obstetrician.
If you're interested in trying acupuncture for nausea in pregnancy, please contact me via my website at http://www.susanwallmeyer-acupuncture.com/ .
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Acupuncture for Depression in Pregnancy
Currently, women who experience depression during pregnancy usually know of two options: either take antidepressants, which have been shown to pose certain health risks to the developing fetus, or avoid medication altogether. However, untreated depression in pregnancy also poses risks: it has been shown to increase a baby's chances of showing irritability, low activity levels, and poor attentiveness during the first year of life. With the March of Dimes reporting that depression affects up to 20% of pregnant women, clearly, a safe alternative therapy is needed. A study in the March 2010 journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that acupuncture is as effective as antidepressants for depression in pregnancy.
In this study, 63% of participants showed at least a 50% reduction in depression symptoms when undergoing once or twice weekly acupuncture for 8 weeks. "If you look at the response rates we got in our study and compare to response rates in studies using antidepressants, you see pretty comparable effectiveness," says study author Rachel Manber, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.
To me, one interesting aspect of this study is the fact that the participants were given individualized acupuncture point prescriptions, that is, set of acupuncture points which were needled. This closely mimics a typical, real-world acupuncture experience. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, five patients, all with depression, could each recieve a different diagnosis and point prescription. In this way, this study is different from the majority of research studies on acupuncture to date. Typically, all participants are given the same point prescription. This is simply the nature of conducting a randomized, controlled, double blind clinical research trial- all patients must be treated the same way. Therefore most studies in the past have been inherently flawed because they do not follow one of the most basic rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine- treat the underlying pattern (which is unique to each patient), not just the symptoms (which may not be unique)! I predict that as more clinical research emerges with individualized point presciptions given to study participants, we will begin to see the true effectiveness of acupuncture (as I have already seen in my practice!)
Read the study for yourself HERE
In this study, 63% of participants showed at least a 50% reduction in depression symptoms when undergoing once or twice weekly acupuncture for 8 weeks. "If you look at the response rates we got in our study and compare to response rates in studies using antidepressants, you see pretty comparable effectiveness," says study author Rachel Manber, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.
To me, one interesting aspect of this study is the fact that the participants were given individualized acupuncture point prescriptions, that is, set of acupuncture points which were needled. This closely mimics a typical, real-world acupuncture experience. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, five patients, all with depression, could each recieve a different diagnosis and point prescription. In this way, this study is different from the majority of research studies on acupuncture to date. Typically, all participants are given the same point prescription. This is simply the nature of conducting a randomized, controlled, double blind clinical research trial- all patients must be treated the same way. Therefore most studies in the past have been inherently flawed because they do not follow one of the most basic rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine- treat the underlying pattern (which is unique to each patient), not just the symptoms (which may not be unique)! I predict that as more clinical research emerges with individualized point presciptions given to study participants, we will begin to see the true effectiveness of acupuncture (as I have already seen in my practice!)
Read the study for yourself HERE
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