Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect from treatment?
An acupuncture treatment plan is tailored to the specific needs of each individual patient. Your initial appointment will last up to 1.5 hours. The day of retrieval or IVF, you will meet your acupuncturist on-site at SRM an hour before your procedure. You will have plenty of time to relax and sip water while receiving treatment. Your acupuncturist will ensure that you are finished and at your procedure on time.
When should I start acupuncture?
Acupuncture can be beneficial prior to beginning ART (assisted reproductive technology) to balance hormones, relieve stress, and prepare the body for pregnancy. The number of treatments you will need depends on your overall health, your body’s response to acupuncture and/or Western reproductive treatments, and the nature and duration of your condition.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine, a comprehensive system of healthcare with a continuous clinical history of over 2,500 years. In our treatments for SRM patients, ultra-thin, single-use needles are applied to specific points on the body. The needles influence the flow of energy, or Qi (pronounced chee), and re-establish health.
Is acupuncture painful?
Acupuncture needles are very fine and flexible, about the diameter of a human hair. In most cases, insertion by a skilled acupuncturist is performed without discomfort. There may be a sensation of Qi at the point of insertion. Most patients find it very relaxing and many fall asleep during treatment.
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes. When performed by a qualified, Licensed Acupuncturist, acupuncture and related techniques have proven to be extremely safe. Only sterile disposable needles are used. Complications due to acupuncture are extremely rare and there are virtually no side effects.
How does acupuncture work?
The ancient Chinese recognized a vital energy behind all life forms and life processes. They called this energy Qi. In developing an understanding of the prevention and cure of disease, these healing practitioners discovered that this energy flows along specific pathways called “meridians”. Each pathway is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. Disease is considered to arise due to a deficiency or imbalance of energy in the meridians and their associated physiological systems.
Western scientists have found evidence that acupuncture points are strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals. Studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of hormones essential to fertility. Acupuncture impacts centrally on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which is the foundation of healthy fertility. It has also been documented to affect parts of the central nervous system related to sensation, pain and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions, blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature.
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