Fertility
For over 18 years, I have specialised in helping couples who are interested in boosting their health as they start a family. Whether you have just decided that you’d like to become parents, or if you have found conception a struggle and are embarking on IVF or natural fertility treatment, I can work with you along the way.
Please view the link to our new Fertility website www.birkdalefertilityacupuncture.co.uk
I'm also able to offer access to private testing facilities for women's hormone levels and Ovarian reserves, merging Western Medicine biomedical hormone analysis with Advanced Fertility Acupuncture treatments.
Our Baby Wall!
With Traditional Chinese Medicine and dietary advice, I can offer a lifestyle path that will help you feel healthier, less stressed, and more revitalised at this important time. I have supported women who have struggled with fertility issues such as PCOS, endometriosis, and unexplained infertility, as well Men who have been told they have poor quality sperm.
I offer an initial assessment as well as follow-up treatments including acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle advice. It is worth keeping in mind that it takes at least 3 months for an Antral Follicle to grow naturally and about 90 days to boost men's sperm, so whether you are interested in natural fertility or having IVF, I recommend a minimum of 3 menstrual cycles of weekly treatment.
I am an affiliated Acupuncturist member of the Zita West National Fertility Network for Reproductive Health and a member of the Acupuncture Fertility Network.
Stress
Dealing with fertility issues can be extremely stressful, and this can create a vicious cycle, impacting on your body and hormones, which in turn creates more stress. Having the chance to relax during your acupuncture treatment may help your endocrine system to work better, and I believe this could improve hormone production and your overall health, putting you in a better position to conceive.
IVF
If you are considering IVF, it would be ideal for us to begin our treatment beforehand so you can feel your best from the very start. Usually, I would advise regular weekly treatment 3 months before and during your IVF cycle, as well as the day before egg collection and on the afternoon of embryo transfer and in the 2 week wait for a potential pregnancy. IVF focuses on increasing the number eggs, it doesn't improve the quality. Thats what we specialise in over a course of treatment plan
Fertility Acupuncture and dietary guidelines will improve Blood quality and the endometrium
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial lining grows outside of the womb. You may experience pain, spotting and painful intercourse, or you might not have realised you had endometriosis until you became faced with fertility issues. Whether you come to see me to help with the pain or because you’d like to start a family, I will treat you holistically by taking a full medical history and understanding how your condition affects you. Then we will discuss a treatment plan, which will include acupuncture as well as dietary advice.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a medical condition of cysts on your ovaries which can prevent you from ovulating and may affect your fertility. In traditional Chinese medicine, PCOS is defined as a damp and/or phlegm condition. If you have PCOS you may find that you have irregular menstrual cycles, have excess hair or acne, and that you struggle with your weight. Many women with PCOS have high levels of insulin, and this affects your hormone production. So when I treat PCOS with traditional Chinese medicine, I will also suggest that you try a low GI/high protein diet as well as exercise. Together we can help you find balance.
Unexplained Infertility
It can be extremely frustrating to be told that you are experiencing unexplained infertility. Your Western medical tests results are normal, yet you are still not conceiving. With a traditional Chinese medicine approach, I will look at the whole picture of your health, medical history and journey to fertility. Before our treatment we will discuss everything that can affect fertility, such as your menstrual cycles, your diet and lifestyle, tiredness and stress.
Your current blood and hormone tests will be analysed with recommendations for any further indepth investigations and advanced blood testing, involving Auto Immune, Thyroid etc...testing may be recommended to enhance our diagnosis.
Our treatment will also aim to help you feel more relaxed, less stressed and more balanced.
Women 35 to 45
Whenever you are considering having a baby, it is important for your body to be as strong and receptive as possible beforehand. It can be more difficult to become pregnant over the age of 35, however, your health is more important than the date on your birth certificate. A healthy, natural lifestyle with regular exercise and a good balanced diet with few vices plus Acupuncture will support you through fertility and pregnancy.
We need a commitment of a minimum of 3 mentrual cycles to enhance fertility, further sessions may be required for any underlying Gyne issues.
Men
It has been shown that nearky 50 per cent of couples who are struggling to get pregnant, sperm quality can be an issue. Together, we will assess your health, diet and lifestyle, and come up with a personalised treatment plan for you. If you have had a Western sperm diagnosis, we can look at it together, and discuss ways to improve areas like sperm count, movement or motility, shape or morphology and volume.
You may be surprised to hear, besides Acupuncture, about the simple changes that can have a positive effect on your sperm quality, such as:
- Taking a break from cycling
- Resting your laptop on a table rather than your lap
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Giving up smoking
- Reducing workplace stress
- Improving your diet
- Keeping your mobile phone out of your trouser pockets
Prices and Treatment Programmes
Consultation & Initial treatment (1hr) - £75
In our first appointment, I will take a full medical case history, a full diagnosis of your menstrual cycle including a Tongue assessment and Abdominal palpitation. Then I will give you a traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis based upon our findings.
I will also give you a Report based upon our findings with fertility diet sheets, personal nutritional information, advice on required treatments and recommendations for any further bio-medical hormone testing. Tests which we can arrange for on your behalf.
Treatment Options
Pay per session
Each session costs £55
Discount packages
Pre-paid 12 week treatment package - £565
or
Full 4 month 17 treatment package - £765
These packages also cover full dietary and nutritional support for both partners, Chinese Cupping and other ancillary treatments.
Payment is immediately due after all Treatments, cash or card is accepted.
HORMONE & OVARIAN RESERVE TESTING
Standard Hormone Testing:
From £79 for Estrogen, FSH, LH, Prolactin, Progesterone & AMH (egg reserve).
Additional specialised tests can be run for Thyroid, Auto Immune, NK Killer, Thrombin, Recurrent Implantation Failures, Multiple Miscarriages etc...
*Tests can be done blood taken from a local private Clinic (extra £30) or we can even send a nurse to your home to take bloods (extra £50).
Turnaround time is 48hrs and a Medical explanation from the Labortary is given regarding the results.
Health Insurance
Most major health insurance providers, especially Medicash Healthshield and Simply Health, will reimburse you for the cost of your acupuncture treatment, but please check with your insurer before our initial appointment.
Other insurance companies include:
Sovereign Health Care
HSF Health Plan
National Friendly
Cardiff Pinnacle
Pay Care
Cigna
Allianz
BHSF
Westfield Health
After each treatment, I will give you full documented receipts, which will allow you to apply for a refund with your insurer.
If you have any questions about Fertility Acupuncture or if you would like to book an appointment in our Birkdale, Southport clinic, please call 07929 014575 or email me.
