Getting Ready – Preparing for Pregnancy
Preconception support gives the chance to optimise your health before getting pregnant.
Ironing out nutrient deficiencies, balancing hormones, and improving sperm and egg quality before trying to conceive has huge benefits.
It increases your chances of getting pregnant, reduces miscarriage risk and has long-term health benefits for your baby.
It takes 116 days for sperm to fully develop and 90 days for an egg to mature and be ready to release.
Using this time to wisely optimise health with acupuncture gives you a wonderful opportunity to prepare.
Hanna was a godsend. She helped me with my stress, thyroid and adrenal issues. Her support and kindness was tremendous. I then fell pregnant very quickly. Her care and guidance through the pregnancy was invaluable. I am so grateful to her.”
~ Samantha Bell
Fertility – PCOS/Endometriosis
PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a common fertility issue which responds well to a combination of acupuncture and nutrition.
The aim of acupuncture and nutrition is to reduce insulin resistance, support weight control and regulate and stimulate ovulation.
Another reason for an absent cycle is Hypothalamic Amenorreah . It can be due to overexercise or stress, especially in women with a low BMI. Boosting hormones and resolving stress with dietary support and acupuncture can bring periods back.
Or if you had regular periods before going on the OCP but haven’t had one since you came off the Pill you may have Post-Pill Amenorreah which can also be helped with acupuncture and nutrition.
I suffer from PCOS and had nine rounds of Clomid and IUI before seeing Hanna. Amazingly, my tenth round worked! The only thing I’d done differently was to have acupuncture.”
~ Catherine
Endometriosis is a complex inflammatory condition which affects many of my patients. Some women without a history of period pain may not realise they have it. So if you have unexplained infertility make sure you raise this as a possibility with your GP.
Both acupuncture and nutrition support hormonal balance, a healthy womb lining and significantly reduce inflammation and period pain.
I had severe endometriosis and had been unable to conceive. Acupuncture significantly reduced the pain and improved my energy levels. Then when I felt ‘normal’ again and ready to start IVF she supported me all the way through. The odds were against us but it worked first time.”~ Jodie
IVF Help
I support women with regular acupuncture treatments plus diet and supplement support in the weeks leading up to IVF.
Sometimes I will work with couple for a few months before they start an IVF cycle. Or others will come for acupuncture just as they begin.
Acupuncture and nutrition can improve egg and blastocyst quality, increase fertilisation rates, ovarian blood supply and boost IVF success.
Acupuncture during IVF, especially at the beginning of ovarian stimulation – leading up to egg collection, focuses on reducing drug side-effects.
It also increases blood flow to the ovaries and lining; improving ovarian response – size of follicles and quantity of eggs, as well as reducing stress, deepening sleep and helping you cope with IVF.
In the days between egg collection and embryo transfer acupuncture treatments I focus on preparing the womb lining for implantation, reducing stress and helping sleep.
Pre and Post embryo transfer acupuncture treatments on the day of transfer can also improve pregnancy outcomes.
I will then usually see you for a couple of sessions in the two week wait before taking a pregnancy test when women often feel the benefit of some gentle supportive care.
I am only 35 years old but was diagnosed with unexplained early menopause. I hadn’t had a period for 18 months before I came to see Hanna. MY FSH was sky high and I was getting hot flushes. After six acupuncture treatments I had a period then one every 28 days again.”
~ Kirsty
Male Fertility
Sperm can be easily damaged by a bad diet, stress, too much alcohol; smoking and being overweight. Although sperm is vulnerable it can be easily improved with better food and lifestyle choices.
Eating plenty of fruit and veg – a rainbow of 7-10 a day helps. Also increase good fats like avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and oily fish plus beans, lentils. And swap out processed sugary foods for wholefoods. I also advise men to give up smoking, cut back on alcohol, coffee and fizzy drinks.
Acupuncture helps reduce stress and improve sleep quality quickly and can reduce local inflammation, improve blood flow and improve overall sperm parameters.
As well as making the time to get the right nutrition and supplement support and advice men also need to get their sperm properly tested.
Just having average sperm might be enough to achieve a pregnancy but the future health of our children depends on how we prepare for parenthood. How we look after ourselves in the months leading up to conception helps our children have healthier lives.
Subclinical problems may be missed with a basic sperm test. If fertility is unexplained I recommend a full thyroid profile, vitamin D test and a DNA fragmentation test.
It’s also worth asking your GP to check for varicoceles, have a sperm auto-antibody check and test for infections like HPV, Strep B and mycoplasma.
Thanks so much for helping me – we really appreciate the part you played in a difficult and emotional process. You’re time and energy were a much needed positive influence in the seemingly endless quest to get our son into our lives.”
~ Dan
Fertility acupuncture and nutrition appointments are available both in London and Lewes, or as online consultations. Contact Hanna to find out more about improving your fertility naturally, reducing stress at this important time, and taking the next steps in your journey to conception.
