Acupuncture Boosts Success of In Vitro Fertilization - Author of Landmark Fertility Study Speaks in Vancouver

Author of Landmark Fertility Study Speaks in Vancouver

VANCOUVER CANADA-- For celebrity mom Celine Dion combining high tech in vitro fertilization (IVF) with acupuncture may have been the formula that finally allowed her to become pregnant with twins, according to People Magazine. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20390073,00.html

Integrating acupuncture with IVF is not something that just celebrities are doing, but reflects a growing trend across North America. For couples who would like to learn more about the current research behind and benefits of integration Acubalance Wellness Centre www.acubalance.ca will be sponsoring a free public talk featuring fertility expert Dr. Paul C. Magarelli MD at Genesis Fertility Centre, Monday October 4th at 7:00 pm.

Internationally recognized for his pioneering research in acupuncture and IVF, Dr Magarelli is in Vancouver to present at the Vancouver 2010 Canadian Fertility and Andrology Association Meeting on current world research in acupuncture and IVF and methods for integrating Chinese Medicine into a patient-centered fertility care plan.

Known for his work on how acupuncture helps regulate the stress hormones that impact ovulation, Magarelli has co-authored a landmark study on acupuncture and IVF published in the journal Fertility and Sterility (Dec 2009, Vol 92 No 6) as well as a chapter on How Chinese Medicine Impacts Outcomes in Fertility Care in the new medical textbook, Infertility and Assisted Reproduction (Cambridge University Press).

A number of scientific studies show that there is a powerful connection between acupuncture and IVF success. An article published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that acupuncture combined with IVF can boost success rates by up to 65 per cent.

Studies indicate “That acupuncture can help improve pregnancy rates, decrease miscarriages, reduce ectopic pregnancies and increase the number of take home babies for women undergoing IVF.”  states Dr. Magarelli.

More and more research is showing that stress can interfere with women getting pregnant, including a recent study published in Fertiltiy and Sterility that implicates specific stress hormones in infertility http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-12-stress12_ST_N.htm

“We’ve known that stress affects fertility for a long time,” says Dr. Magarelli “What’s new about our study is that it shows the mechanism by which acupuncture may help to regulate stress hormones and help the body return to balance. This balanced state is when a woman’s body is the most fertile and she has the best chance of getting pregnant.”

While many leading fertility clinics in the US are including acupuncture programs in their treatment menus this kind of collaboration is still relatively new in BC. Acubalance Wellness Centre (the first acupuncture clinic in Western Canada to focus exclusively on fertility and women and men’s reproductive health) has a unique program providing on-site acupuncture fertility treatment before and after embryo transfer at Genesis Fertility Centre.

Dr Jason Hitkari --fertility expert and co director at Genesis is finding that more patients are
are seeking acupuncture support for IVF. “They find that having acupuncture helps them relax, de-stress and feel much more positive about the whole experience.”

But, he stresses that in looking for a fertility acupuncturist, “It’s important that couples do their homework and look for a clinic where the practitioners have specialized training in fertility and reproductive health, and experience working with IVF and western medical doctors.”

Communication and knowledge sharing is also vital according to Lorne Brown, Dr. of Chinese Medicine and founder and clinical director of Acubalance. “We communicate openly with the doctors at Genesis about the patient’s treatment plan, and we both respect what each medical model contributes to the overall patient experience. This just results in better patient care.”