Please note that it is essential that all patients have an initial consultation and assessment with me before embarking on these programmes.

Treatment programme for natural conception

This programme is appropriate for you if:

• You have had difficulty in becoming pregnant and there is no obvious reason for this (‘unexplained infertility’);

• You are able to conceive naturally, but have had a number of miscarriages for which no medical cause has been found;

• You wish to conceive naturally.

I normally recommend a treatment programme lasting for three to six months. It consists of weekly acupuncture treatment combined, where necessary and appropriate, with food supplements, dietary advice and therapeutic exercise. The aim is to regulate and harmonise your qi system and your menstrual cycle, thus helping to remove any ‘energetic’ hindrances to conception.

If you have not already done so, you may be asked to complete a temperature chart (BBT chart) in the first month as this can be invaluable in helping us to determine the correct acupuncture treatment for you.

Treatment programmes for IVF/ICSI

These programmes are appropriate for you if:

• You have had a number of unsuccessful cycles of IVF/ICSI in the recent past, or, if you have had repeated early miscarriages;

• You are planning to have your first IVF/ICSI cycle and want to give yourself the best chance of this working first time.

Programme of treatment to prepare you for IVF/ICSI

Treatment begins three to six months before the IVF/ICSI cycle. The aim is to:

• Harmonise your qi system

• Regulate your menstrual cycle

• Optimise the function of your ovaries and uterus so that you respond well to the IVF/ICSI process.

I normally recommend ongoing treatment on a weekly basis until the start of the IVF cycle. Where necessary and appropriate, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary advice and therapeutic exercise are also used as part of the programme.

Programme of treatment during the IVF/ICSI cycle

This programme continues where the previous programme finishes. It consists of weekly treatment, beginning at the same time as down-regulation and continuing throughout the cycle until egg collection. It may also be appropriate where there has been no preparatory course of treatment. In this case, it consists of two treatments per week, beginning at the same time as down-regulation and continuing throughout the cycle until egg collection.

In both scenarios, treatment is also given on the day of embryo transfer, immediately before and after the transfer (also known as ‘The German Protocol’). Where this is impractical, treatment is given on the day before and, the day after, embryo transfer. A further treatment is given three to four days after transfer and in the following week.

These treatment programmes, with minor variations, are also suitable for FET (frozen embryo transfer), IUI (intra uterine insemination) and IVF/ICSI with egg donation.