Infertility
Infertility
We know that difficulty conceiving can be an incredibly challenging experience. There are a number of integrative therapies that can increase your chances of getting pregnant – either naturally or in conjunction with Assisted Reproductive Technologies such as IUI or IVF. Different therapeutic modalities are like different languages that your body speaks – the key is to find the right language (or combination of languages) that your body will listen to. At Stepping Stone Acupuncture & Wellness, we offer many services that can benefit patients dealing with infertility, either as stand-alone therapies or in combination with one another. When it comes to holistic medicine, we find that the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts.
Abdominal Therapy is founded on the ancient Maya therapy of abdominal massage, including pelvic assessment, treatment, and correction. Through specialized external massage techniques, your Abdominal Therapist guides your organs, soft tissue, and skeletal structure back into their optimal position, allowing for improved flow of energy, blood, and lymph through the abdomen and pelvis. By helping create better alignment and positioning of the reproductive organs, Abdominal Therapy can regulate menstrual cycles and increase the chance of conception. Once you are pregnant, there are many Abdominal Therapy techniques to support your body to achieve a healthy pregnancy.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of single-use, sterile, solid needles into specific acupuncture points on the body to reduce tension and pain, overcome disease, and rebalance the body. Your acupuncturist will work with you to determine the underlying cause of your fertility issues from a Chinese Medicine perspective, and your treatments will be tailored to your presentation. Additional Chinese Medicine methods such as cupping or moxibustion heat therapy may be included in acupuncture sessions, when appropriate. Acupuncture can balance hormones, regulate menstrual cycles, increase blood flow to the uterus, and change how the nervous system perceives and responds to stress. If you are going through IVF, there are also specific acupuncture protocols performed around the time of transfer that have been shown to increase success rates. Once you are pregnant, acupuncture can support your body to achieve a healthy pregnancy.
Chinese Herbal Medicine works on the same principles as acupuncture – but the herbs work from the inside-out, whereas acupuncture works from the outside-in. Herbs are taken in a formula of 2-20 herbs working together to move stagnation in the reproductive system, balance hormones, and boost your body’s natural resources. Formulas are customized to your unique presentation of infertility – your herbalist will consider your whole health history in their formula recommendations. Herbs are prescribed in pills, teas, tinctures, powders, or raw herbs to decoct at home.
A Health Coach is a supportive mentor and wellness guide, who can help you to identify nutritional and lifestyle changes that can improve your overall health and wellness, help to balance hormone levels, improve energy, optimize the functioning of your reproductive system, and help you better manage the stress of infertility.
In addition to these services, we may also recommend herbal teas, diet and lifestyle modifications, and aromatherapy to further support you on your journey. We also have a large referral network and may refer out to other specialists as necessary.