Fertility, IVF Support, Labour Induction - Byron Bay Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

At Byron Bay Acupuncture and Chinese medicine,
we love treating women...

IVF SUPPORT

Olivia uses whole systems Chinese Medicine to assist you to achieve optimal fertility and support you in your journey through assisted reproductive technology - be it ovulation induction (OI), intrauterine insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).

Whole systems Chinese Medicine is a complex intervention that can include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and dietary and lifestyle recommendations. Pre-conception treatment is optimally an 8-12 week course.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine in the months leading up to an IVF cycle helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and balance hormone levels. By treating the root causes of infertility, some patients fall pregnant during this preparation time, while the chance of a successful IVF cycle is increased.

Olivia provides tailor-made, wholistic preconception, pregnancy, labour induction and post labour care programs.

Olivia is an integrative health care practitioner and is happy to support you in whatever way she can, in harmony with your western medical practitioners.

Olivia is a highly qualified acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Herbal Medicine who offers skill, presence and compassion. She understands the lows and highs of baby-making, and the frustration and challenges that some clients face, having been through many IVF cycles herself.

• A 2023 cohort study concluded that acupuncture benefits women with recurrent implantation failure. The study compared the outcomes of patients with recurrent implantation failure who underwent frozen embryo transfer with or without acupuncture. A total of 923 patients with recurrent implantation failure who underwent frozen embryo transfer were included in this study.The acupuncture group consisted of 303 recurrent implantation failure patients who received acupuncture therapy in addition to standard hormone replacement therapy /delayed hormone replacement therapy for frozen egg transfer. The Non-acupuncture group consisted of 620 recurrent implantation failure patients who received only standard hormone replacement therapy /delayed hormone replacement therapy for frozen egg transfer.

The acupuncture group had significantly higher biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate than the non-acupuncture group. A potentially higher live birth rate and ongoing pregnancy rate were observed in the acupuncture group than in the non-acupuncture group. However, the survival analysis did not show that acupuncture significantly promoted live birth. Acupuncture is an appropriate adjunctive technique in the in vitro fertilization process as it improves biochemical and clinical pregnancies.

Gan D, Liu LY, Zhong Y, Wu YN, Lai YY, Wei W, Guo XL, Tian R, Yu SY, Liang FR, Hu WH, Yang J. Acupuncture benefits to women with recurrent implantation failure: A propensity score-matched cohort study. Heliyon. 2023 Jul 16;9(7):e18193. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18193. PMID: 37539224; PMCID: PMC10395475.

Acupuncture's Effect on Pregnancy Rate when Applied Before and After Egg Transfer Day

• A 2020 randomised controlled trial concluded that three sessions of acupuncture before and after egg transfer significantly increased the pregnancy rates in women with unexplained infertility. It was also found that acupuncture significantly reduced anxiety levels that occurred before egg transfer.

Guven PG, Cayir Y, Borekci B. Effectiveness of acupuncture on pregnancy success rates for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized controlled trial. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Mar;59(2):282- 286. doi: 10.1016/j.tjog.2020.01.018. PMID: 32127151.

• A 2019 study concluded that administration of acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer dramatically improved fertility results in women who underwent in vitro fertilization/intra-cytoplasm sperm injection for reproduction..The study analyzed the charts of a tacupuncture group, 46 cases) and without acupuncture (control group, 42 cases) were applied. The biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate after transplantation were compared between two groups. The clinical pregnancy rate in the acupuncture group was higher than that in the control group (60.9% vs. 33.3% respectively). Likewise, the live birth rate in the acupuncture group was also higher than that in the control group (71.7% vs. 31.0%).

Çoksüer H, Barut MU, Bozkurt M, Agacayak E, Sak S, Demir M, Calıskan E. Acupuncture Enhances Chances of Pregnancy in Unexplained Infertile Patients Who Undergo A Blastocyst Transfer in A Fresh-Cycle. Chin J Integr Med. 2019 Apr;25(4):298-302. doi: 10.1007/s11655-018-2918-6. Epub 2019 Jun 25. PMID: 31236890.

Combined Effect of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

• A 2015 retrospective cohort study that reviewed outcomes of 1231 IVF patient records undergoing IVF found that patients receiving IVF with adjuvant whole-systems traditional Chinese medicine, was associated with greater odds of live birth in donor and non-donor cycles. Whole-systems traditional Chinese medicine is a complex intervention that can include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and dietary and lifestyle recommendations,.. In the study, patients received either IVF with no additional treatment; IVF and elective acupuncture on day of embryo transfer; or IVF and elective WS-TCM. acupuncture or whole-systems traditional Chinese medicine (WS-TCM) as an adjuvant IVF treatment.

The primary outcome was live birth. Of 1069 non-donor cycles, WS-TCM was associated with greater odds of live birth compared with IVF alone, or embryo transfer with acupuncture only. Of 162 donor cycles, WS-TCM was associated with increased live births compared with all groups or embryo transfer with acupuncture only These results should be taken cautiously as more rigorous research is needed.

Hullender Rubin LE, Opsahl MS, Wiemer KE, Mist SD, Caughey AB. Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015 Jun;30(6):602-12. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.02.005. Epub 2015 Feb 24. PMID: 25911598; PMCID: PMC4458185.

UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY

Many couples do not have an identifiable cause of infertility. Unexplained infertility is frustrating and upsetting as it leaves couples with a sense that nothing can be done except to keep trying and to hope for the best.

Modern research supports the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of unexplained infertility.

successful pregnancy compared with patients without TCM. Si-Wu-Tang, Gui-Zhi-Fu-Ling-
Wan, and Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San were the Chinese herbal formulas that were most strongly

associated with successful pregnancy among infertile women. These results are worthy of
further investigation by randomized control trials.
Liao YH, Lin JG, Lin CC, Tsai CC, Lai HL, Li TC. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment
Associated with Female Infertility in Taiwan: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Dec 8;2020:3951741. doi:
10.1155/2020/3951741. PMID: 33381200; PMCID: PMC7749771.
• A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that acupuncture and its combined therapy may be effective for
treating female infertility. The study revealed that the pregnancy rate was significantly improved with treatment
compared to that in the control group. Subgroup analysis showed that comparing with pure western medicine
intervention, no matter intervention with acupuncture alone, with acupuncture plus western medicine, with acupuncture
plus Chinese medicine, or acupuncture plus Chinese medicine and western medicine, all of these subgroups exhibited
significant improvement. The subgroup according to different types of infertility showed a significant improvement in
infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, tubal infertility, ovulatory disorder, and other factors. In addition, the
ovulation rate and endometrial thickness were significantly increased. The level of LH was obviously decreased.
Moreover, with acupuncture, less adverse effects occurred. The funnel plot revealed that publication bias might exist.
All trials included had unclear risks in the aspects of allocation concealment, blinding of participants and personnel,
blinding of outcome assessment, selective reporting, and other bias so more research is required to draw conclusive
evidence.
Yun L, Liqun W, Shuqi Y, Chunxiao W, Liming L, Wei Y. Acupuncture for infertile women without undergoing
assisted reproductive techniques (ART): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019
Jul;98(29):e16463. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000016463. PMID: 31335705; PMCID: PMC6709164.
• A 2015 meta-analysis involving 4247 women with infertility has shown that that management of female infertility with
Chinese herbal medicine can improve pregnancy rates 2-fold within a 3–6 month period compared with Western
medical fertility drug therapy. In addition, fertility indicators such as ovulation rates, cervical mucus score, biphasic
basal body temperature, and appropriate thickness of the endometrial lining were positively influenced by CHM therapy,
indicating an ameliorating physiological effect conducive for a viable pregnancy. The trials included women with PCOS,
endometriosis, anovulation, fallopian tube blockage, or unexplained infertility. Mean pregnancy rates in the Chinese
herbal medicine group were 60% compared with 33% in the WM group.
Ried K. Chinese herbal medicine for female infertility: an updated meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2015 Feb;23(1):116-
28. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.12.004. Epub 2015 Jan 3. PMID: 25637159.

• A 2022 population based study indicated that Chinese medicine is associated with higher likelihood of successful pregnancy in infertile women. Population-based case-control study included the data from 2,627 infertile women with successful pregnancy and 2,627 infertile women without successful pregnancy. Patients who received TCM treatment significantly increased in successful pregnancy compared with patients without TCM. Si-Wu-Tang, Gui-Zhi-Fu-Ling- Wan, and Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San were the Chinese herbal formulas that were most strongly associated with successful pregnancy among infertile women. These results are worthy of further investigation by randomized control trials.

Liao YH, Lin JG, Lin CC, Tsai CC, Lai HL, Li TC. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment Associated with Female Infertility in Taiwan: A Population-Based Case-Control Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Dec 8;2020:3951741. doi: 10.1155/2020/3951741. PMID: 33381200; PMCID: PMC7749771.

• A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that acupuncture and its combined therapy may be effective for treating female infertility. The study revealed that the pregnancy rate was significantly improved with treatment compared to that in the control group. Subgroup analysis showed that comparing with pure western medicine intervention, no matter intervention with acupuncture alone, with acupuncture plus western medicine, with acupuncture plus Chinese medicine, or acupuncture plus Chinese medicine and western medicine, all of these subgroups exhibited significant improvement. The subgroup according to different types of infertility showed a significant improvement in infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, tubal infertility, ovulatory disorder, and other factors. In addition, the ovulation rate and endometrial thickness were significantly increased. The level of LH was obviously decreased. Moreover, with acupuncture, less adverse effects occurred. The funnel plot revealed that publication bias might exist. All trials included had unclear risks in the aspects of allocation concealment, blinding of participants and personnel, blinding of outcome assessment, selective reporting, and other bias so more research is required to draw conclusive evidence.

Yun L, Liqun W, Shuqi Y, Chunxiao W, Liming L, Wei Y. Acupuncture for infertile women without undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Jul;98(29):e16463. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000016463. PMID: 31335705; PMCID: PMC6709164.

• A 2015 meta-analysis involving 4247 women with infertility has shown that that management of female infertility with Chinese herbal medicine can improve pregnancy rates 2-fold within a 3–6 month period compared with Western medical fertility drug therapy. In addition, fertility indicators such as ovulation rates, cervical mucus score, biphasic basal body temperature, and appropriate thickness of the endometrial lining were positively influenced by CHM therapy, indicating an ameliorating physiological effect conducive for a viable pregnancy. The trials included women with PCOS, endometriosis, anovulation, fallopian tube blockage, or unexplained infertility. Mean pregnancy rates in the Chinese herbal medicine group were 60% compared with 33% in the WM group.

Ried K. Chinese herbal medicine for female infertility: an updated meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2015 Feb;23(1):116-28. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.12.004. Epub 2015 Jan 3. PMID: 25637159.

MISCARRIAGE - You can do something

Threatened Miscarriage

Threatened miscarriage is a common complication of early pregnancy that increases the risk of miscarriage or premature labour and causes a huge physical and mental stress on women and their families.

Evidence to date fails to support biomedical medications or lifestyle interventions such as bedrest to improve birthing outcomes, resulting in a medical monitoring approach of “watchful waiting”. While it is known that chromosomal abnormalities are responsible for approximately 50 % of miscarriages, the cause for the majority of the remaining miscarriages in western medicine remains unknown.

Traditional Chinese medicine has specific theories and treatment protocols relating to promoting optimal early pregnancy. In China, Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used in threatened miscarriage treatment for a long time. For instance, “Shou Tai Wan (Quiet Foetus Pill)” or “An Tai Yin (Quiet Foetus Drink)” has a long history of providing protective effects against threatened miscarriage.

Modern research also supports the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine for threatened miscarriage. Additionally, acupuncture has been found to assist women’s response to stress in early pregnancy and provides supportive care, which has been shown to improve pregnancy rates for women with threatened miscarriage. Research has shown that women are dissatisfied with the medical advice of 'watchful waiting'. Acupuncture treatment gives woman back the power to 'do something'.

• A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that current evidence supported Chinese herbal medicine as a potential treatment for threatened miscarriage. 57 randomised control trials involving 5,881 patients were included Compared with western medicine alone, Chinese herbal medicine alone showed significant higher incidence of continuation of pregnancy after 28 gestational weeks, continuation of pregnancy after treatment and higher β-hCG levels. Compared with western medicine alone, combined Chinese herbal medicine and western medicine showed significant higher incidence of continuation of pregnancy after 28 gestational weeks, continuation of pregnancy after treatment and higher β-hCG level.
No significant differences in reducing the adverse maternal outcomes and neonatal death were found in combined Chinese herbal medicine compared with western medicine alone. Results should be interpreted with caution considering the low to moderate quality of the available evidence.

Xie H, Zhang A, Mou X, He T, Li J, Wang CC, Fan X, Li L. Chinese herbal medicine for threatened miscarriage: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Feb 14;14:1083746. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1083746. PMID: 36865912; PMCID: PMC9971626.

• A 2021 article reviewing the efficacy and safety of chinese medicine for threatened miscarriage concluded that: Chinese herbal medicine may improve endometrial function, inhibit uterine contraction, regulate immune response, and promote the development of the embryo. It is considered beneficial for preventing and treating miscarriage with fewer adverse events compared to current conventional western medicine by being used alone or in combination with western medicines.

Most clinical trials have reported no adverse events or significant risks, but systematic reviews have concluded that no data are available to demonstrate the safety of Chinese herbal medicine for the mother or the infant with current publications.

Lingjing Lu, Juan Li, Yu Zhou, Hongxia Ma, Min Hu, "Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Threatened Miscarriage: Advantages and Risks", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2021, Article ID 5589116, 26 pages, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5589116

• Acupuncture and moxibustion are recognised as non-pharmacological approaches, which can maintain pregnancy, and enhance the effects with the Chinese herbal medicine or western medicines. Most studies show that acupuncture is safe and effective without side effects. The safety of acupuncture in pregnancy is reasonably well accepted, but there is still a lack of high-quality scientific research to validate the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion for threatened miscarriage.

Lingjing Lu, Juan Li, Yu Zhou, Hongxia Ma, Min Hu, "Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Threatened Miscarriage: Advantages and Risks", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2021, Article ID 5589116, 26 pages, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5589116

• A 2016 randomised trial concluded that acupuncture was a feasible intervention for reduced threatened miscarriage symptoms when compared to a touch intervention.The trial included 40 women who were successfully randomised. For women receiving acupuncture there was a statically significant reduction with threatened miscarriage symptoms including bleeding, cramping and back pain compared with the control. Further research is required to further explore acupuncture use for this common complication and whether it can reduce the incidence of miscarriage.

Betts D, Smith CA, Dahlen HG. Does acupuncture have a role in the treatment of threatened miscarriage? Findings from a feasibility randomised trial and semi-structured participant interviews. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016 Oct 7;16(1):298. doi: 10.1186/s12884-016- 1092-8. Erratum in: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017 Jan 11;17 (1):27. PMID: 27717319; PMCID: PMC5055689.

Recurrent Miscarriage

Early pregnancy loss is a shocking and traumatic event for women and their families. Miscarriage usually induces an intense period of emotional distress and subsequent miscarriages increase the distress women and their families feel. To date, there is no universally accepted western medicine treatment for unexplained recurrent miscarriage.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines have been widely used in Asian societies for thousands of years and have become a popular alternative to Western medicines in recent years. Many clinical studies have reported that Chinese herbal medicines can improve pregnancy outcomes for pregnant women who had previously suffered recurrent miscarriage.

Olivia is a highly qualified acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Herbal Medicine who offers skill, presence and compassion. She understands what a devastating loss miscarriage can be and is here to support your body, mind and spirit to heal. Olivia is an integrative health care practitioner and provides tailor-made, wholistic care programs.

• A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis that included 916 patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous miscarriage concluded that co-treatment with Shoutai Pill, a famous classic Chinese herbal medicine formula, and western medicine might be superior to western medicine alone in the first trimester of pregnancy to prevent miscarriage in women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. There was no adverse event in the experimental group reported. However, it is necessary to verify its effectiveness with further more standardized researches of rigorous design.

Li HF, Shen QH, Li XQ, Feng ZF, Chen WM, Qian JH, Shen L, Yu LY, Yang Y. The Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shoutai Pill Combined with Western Medicine in the First Trimester of Pregnancy in Women with Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Biomed Res Int. 2020 Aug 8;2020:7495161. doi: 10.1155/2020/7495161. PMID: 32851085; PMCID: PMC7436282.

• A 2024 article outlines how Jiawei Shoutai Pill promotes decidualization by regulating the SGK1/ENaC pathway in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. The study outlines how abnormal SGK1/ENaC signaling pathway regulation is closely associated with early endometrial damage in recurrent miscarriage patients.

Jiawei Shoutai Pill promotes endometrial proliferation and mesenchymal-epithelial transition through the SGK1/ENaC signaling pathway, improving endometrial shedding. Consequently, the study concludes that iawei Shoutai Pill is a potential treatment for recurrent miscarriage.

Di X, Duan Z, Ma Y, Song X, Hao Y, Li G, Tan Z, Lou Y, Lin X. Jiawei Shoutai Pill promotes decidualization by regulating the SGK1/ENaC pathway in recurrent spontaneous abortion. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Jan 10;318(Pt A):116939. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116939. Epub 2023 Jul 20. PMID: 37479068.

• A 2021 article on the therapeutic importance of Zishen Yutai Pill on the female reproductive health concluded that Zishen Yutai Pill, a combination of 15 traditional medicines, has improved the fertility and pregnancy rate through in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Further, various clinical studies have revealed that Zishen Yutai Pill showed the curative effect for miscarriage, recurrent spontaneous abortion, menstrual disorders, luteal dysfunction, diminished ovarian reserve, polycystic ovary syndrome and premature ovarian insufficiency. The intervention of Zishen Yutai Pill has multiple roles in reproductive functions such as regulation of ovulation, follicle development, menstrual flow, hormonal balance and endometrial thickness.

Maharajan K, Xia Q, Duan X, Tu P, Zhang Y, Liu K. Therapeutic importance of Zishen Yutai Pill on the female reproductive health: A review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Dec 5;281:114523. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114523. Epub 2021 Aug 24. PMID: 34438031.