We are both Acupuncturists and Herbalists who have treated complex infertility cases for over a decade using medicine that is thousands of years old. We often co-treat patients or my husband will treat the husband for poor sperm count, morphology and/or motility. We just had our first set of Irish Twins last month treating exclusively with acupuncture and herbal medicine for infertility and habitual miscarriage.
Numerous studies prove acupuncture's efficacy beyond the billions of cases supporting empirical evidence accumulated over thousands of years. This ancient form of medicine actually works according to a western medical model and has been published in respected allopathic medical journals.
A study published in the July 2005 issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture helped infertile men by apparently helping improve sperm quality in their semen.
Fertility and Sterility July 2005
I treat women for all types of fertility issues including: unexplained infertility, endometriosis, PCOS, High FSH levels (early menopause), annovulation, irregular cycles, hypo-thyroidism, habitual miscarriage, or auto-immune disorders.
Here is yet another ... "study to demonstrate that repeated low-frequency electro-acupuncture and physical exercise can reduce high sympathetic nerve activity seen in women with PCOS,” according to the authors. “Furthermore, both therapies decreased measures of obesity while only low-frequency electro-acupuncture improved menstrual bleeding pattern. "
Source: Stener-Victorin et al. Low-frequency Electro-Acupuncture and Physical Exercise Decrease High Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2009; DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00197.2009
Both my husband and I have treated hundreds of women with acupuncture during embryo transfers (the last stage of in-vitro fertilization cycle) at some of the most prestigious fertility centers in the U.S. increasing pregnancy up to an astounding 65%.
Source: BritishMedical Journal,doi:10.1136/bmj.39471.430451.BE (February 2008)
and
Source: Infertility and Sterility, April 2007
However, in our practice our statistical success in pregnancy rates are even more impressive when combined with IVF at 82.5%.
A 2002 German study that received a lot of attention found significantly higher conception rates (42.5% vs. 26.3%) when acupuncture was combined with IVF. Also, two studies published in May 2006, showed that acupuncture can improve IVF success rates.
Stener-Victorin et al. Low-frequency Electro-Acupuncture and Physical Exercise Decrease High Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2009; DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00197.2009
References
1. Paulus, W., et al. Fertility and Sterility. April, Vol. 77 (4):721-724, 2002.
2. Dieterle,S., Ying, G., Hatzmann, W., Neuer, A. Fertility and Sterility, May, Vol. 85 (5):1347-135, 2006.
3. Westergaard, L., Mao, Q., et al. Fertility and Sterility, May, Vol. 85 (5): 1341-1346, 2006.
4. Smith, C., Coyle, M., et al. Fertility and Sterility, May, Vol. 85 (5) 1352-1358, 2006.
5. Pei, J., Strehler, E., Noss, U. et al. Fertility and Sterility, July, Vol. 84 (1), pgs. 141-7, 2005.
6. Cnattingius, S. et al, New England Journal of Medicine Vol.343(25):1839-1845, Dec., 2000.
7. George, L., et al. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Vol. 20 (2): 119-126, March, 2006.
8. Ibid.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Decay of the Infertile
Devastation. Revulsion. Regret.
Devastation that their dream of being pregnant, giving birth, breast feeding and being a Mother feels unattainable.
Revulsion of the dysfunction of their body and often even God.
Regret in marrying their spouse or waiting too long to conceive.
The strain on their marriage is equivalent to an affair or death of a child. The forced timing of intimacy expunges the passion they once had. The anger and regret every time a pregnancy test reflects one lonely line proving once again she isn't pregnant is hostile and all consuming. The mood swings are volatile. The depression crushing. The anxiety overwhelmingly colossal. The strain shreds the bond the couple once felt was unconditional and eternal. Their entire existence hangs in a weak and decaying balance.
This is what my patients experience every day of their lives for months or years on end. That is until I am able to gracefully bring balance and fertility to their cold and once barren wombs. Then miraculously the burden of death and inconceivable grief lifts instantly and they plunge into the ecstasy and challenges of pregnancy and parenthood.
Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. is a nationally known and sought after fertility expert in the U.S. Patients have travelled as far as London, England for her fertility expertise. She has been featured in national health magazine such as: USA Today, Woman’s Day, Parenting Magazine, Natural Health, Better Nutrition, Achieving Families, Resolve Newsletter and Parents Magazine. She has also been the subject of newspaper feature stories in the San Diego Union Tribune and the Idaho Statesman, radio spots on NPR, K-POP and Pregtastic and television news magazine segments including: KUSI TV News in San Diego.
She served on the board of Resolve, the non-profit organization helping couples struggling with infertility. She has given treatment to hundreds of couples during the embryo transfers of their IVF cycles at the most prestigious fertility centers in the United States. Ms. Burris was the founder of Fertility Retreats for couples where 75% of the participants are now parents.
Devastation that their dream of being pregnant, giving birth, breast feeding and being a Mother feels unattainable.
Revulsion of the dysfunction of their body and often even God.
Regret in marrying their spouse or waiting too long to conceive.
The strain on their marriage is equivalent to an affair or death of a child. The forced timing of intimacy expunges the passion they once had. The anger and regret every time a pregnancy test reflects one lonely line proving once again she isn't pregnant is hostile and all consuming. The mood swings are volatile. The depression crushing. The anxiety overwhelmingly colossal. The strain shreds the bond the couple once felt was unconditional and eternal. Their entire existence hangs in a weak and decaying balance.
This is what my patients experience every day of their lives for months or years on end. That is until I am able to gracefully bring balance and fertility to their cold and once barren wombs. Then miraculously the burden of death and inconceivable grief lifts instantly and they plunge into the ecstasy and challenges of pregnancy and parenthood.
Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. is a nationally known and sought after fertility expert in the U.S. Patients have travelled as far as London, England for her fertility expertise. She has been featured in national health magazine such as: USA Today, Woman’s Day, Parenting Magazine, Natural Health, Better Nutrition, Achieving Families, Resolve Newsletter and Parents Magazine. She has also been the subject of newspaper feature stories in the San Diego Union Tribune and the Idaho Statesman, radio spots on NPR, K-POP and Pregtastic and television news magazine segments including: KUSI TV News in San Diego.
She served on the board of Resolve, the non-profit organization helping couples struggling with infertility. She has given treatment to hundreds of couples during the embryo transfers of their IVF cycles at the most prestigious fertility centers in the United States. Ms. Burris was the founder of Fertility Retreats for couples where 75% of the participants are now parents.
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