Fertility and Pregnancy

Dr. Erin West is a Holistic Doctor at Mend Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine who specifically specializes in infertility treatment in Gilbert, AZ. Previously an ER nurse for 12 years, she holds a Doctorate Degree.

close up of woman with pregnancy test hugging man

Infertility Treatment in Gilbert, AZ

It can be draining, frustrating, and confusing when month after month you try for a baby but you still aren’t getting the results you want. When trying to figure out the answers yourself, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with information and what works for one person, may not work for another. That’s where our infertility treatment services come in. This is our area of specialty, and Chinese Medicine and acupuncture have been used for centuries to treat infertility. Whether you’re struggling with male or female infertility, our holistic doctor is here to help you.

It is wonderful to see people’s lives change as they accomplish their goals of expanding their family. What an amazing gift! Many couples come to us after getting fertility diagnostic testing done, yet most do not have a clear reason for their inability to get or stay pregnant. Some patients come to us before getting any testing.

How Can Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Help with Infertility?

When it comes to traditional Chinese medicine, there are two things to know: it focuses on balance and correcting the root of the problem, not the symptoms. At Mend Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, our integrative doctor does not treat your symptoms. We are trained to identify and treat imbalances that may lead to infertility. Through Chinese medicine and fertility acupuncture, we can:

  • Regulate the menstrual cycle and promote healthy ovulation
  • Increase blood circulation to the uterus to provide a better lining
  • Increase success of rates of IVF (in vitro fertilization) and IUI (intra-follicle insemination)
  • Reduce stress response and regulate hormones
  • Make sperm healthier and increase motility
  • Increase pregnancy rates and reduce miscarriages

Remember: your infertility treatment is specific to your individual body and needs. So, specific lifestyle, nutritional, and supplement guidance will be given to you during your first appointment with us.

Cold Laser Therapy in Gilbert

At Mend Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, our holistic doctor is excited to offer our patients cold laser therapy in Gilbert, also known as low level light therapy or low level laser therapy, as a fertility treatment. Unlike high-powered lasers that damage tissue, these cold lasers gently cause change at a cellular level, deep within your body.

How Does Low Level Laser Therapy Help with Fertility

Mitochondrial health is central to egg quality. The eggs have 200 times more mitochondria than any other cells in the body. But as we age, mitochondria wear down and it is estimated that 9 out of 10 eggs are abnormal due to the lack of ATP and energy available for them. Cold laser therapy supports mitochondria function and ATP production.

Cold laser therapy for fertility can also help to:

  • Reduce oxidative stress and aging to the ovaries
  • Increase blood flow to the uterus, ovaries, and abdomen
  • Speed tissue healing
  • Eliminate recurring infections
  • Reduce scarring (from earlier surgeries or infections)
  • Relax the sympathetic nervous system
  • Increased absorption of CoQ10 antioxidant, which helps offset free radical damage
  • Decreases stress and promotes parasympathetic function

Cold laser treatments are gentle and painless. There are no side effects associated with the treatments, and they work well when combined with other therapies, especially acupuncture.

client being treated with cold laser therapy for fertility enhancement

Treatment Protocol

Curious how cold laser fertility treatment works? Let us help provide some clarity.

Beginning on the first day of your period, the first of six laser treatments would start. The treatments would continue over the next two weeks until you ovulate—generally three treatments a week. If you’re combining acupuncture with your laser treatments, we recommend two sessions a week during those two weeks between menses and ovulation. When ovulation is expected, natural or assisted insemination is attempted. If you don’t conceive, another course of treatment will begin again on the first day of your next period. This cycle will continue for three to six months, which is typically the time frame in which conception occurs.

This treatment can also be used when:

  • Preparing for egg retrieval: Cold laser therapy increases ATP and mitochondria production (your natural energy reserves in your cells) which will support follicular growth and development. For this reason, it is best to have women use it a minimum of 3 times per week for 30 minutes, leading up to retrieval.

  • Post-retrieval: This treatment has been shown to reduce swelling and inflammation after surgeries, and enhance the post-op healing process. By improving healing time, increasing blood flow, and reducing inflammation it will help prepare the body for transfer and therefore support implantation.

  • Pre-embryo transfer: Cold laser therapy is shown to boost blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness of the uterine lining, which is why we recommend 3x per week for 30 minutes each leading up to the embryo transfer. This device is FDA-approved, totally safe, and extremely effective.

Those who benefit from this fertility treatment include women with egg quality issues (low AMH, high FSH, women 38 and over, PCOS or ovarian cysts, and uterine fibroids) and women who have uterine lining issues (endometriosis and inflammation, recurrent infections in the abdomen, history of abdominal surgery or D&C, thin linings during IVF cycles).

Pregnancy

Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history and profound experience in pregnancy care. At Mend, we offer our Chinese medicine and acupuncture treatments as safe, effective, and drug-free options to help you feel balanced and healthy.

What Can Acupuncture Help with During Pregnancy?

Acupuncture during pregnancy can offer relief and balance in many aspects. If you’re looking for holistic remedies for pregnancy nausea as well as other uncomfortable effects of being pregnant, our integrative doctor can help.

woman holding her pregnant belly comfortably on couch

Here is what acupuncture treatment can help with:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Hypertension
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Breech and posterior presentation
  • Musculoskeletal pain (low back, hip, sacroiliac, pubic symphysis, etc.)
  • Constipation
  • Heartburn
  • Hemorrhoids and vulvar varicose
  • Insomnia
  • Edema
  • Headaches
  • Sinus problems
  • Tiredness and exhaustion
  • Threatened miscarriage

When to Begin Acupuncture Treatment

Weeks 1-12:

Acupuncture is performed weekly for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy by our holistic doctor to help reduce miscarriage risk and reduce any discomfort you may be experiencing. After 12 weeks gestation, acupuncture can be continued or used at any point during the pregnancy to help reduce these symptoms, or simply to reduce stress levels throughout the pregnancy.

Weeks 33-40:

Weekly pre-labor treatments begin with the goal of preparing your body for birth. The focus is on strengthening you, softening the cervix, facilitating sleep, and reducing stress and anxiety leading up to the birth. Women who receive these pre-labor treatments tend to require less intervention during labor, as well as a reduction in late-term pregnancies.

Mend is Ready to Help You Heal

Treating couples for infertility and during pregnancy is one of the most rewarding parts of our practice. There’s nothing like holding a healthy baby whose parents we’ve treated! We are located in Gilbert, AZ, and are here to get you healthy and happy through our natural and effective methods. Contact us at (480) 788-1757 or schedule your appointment online today.

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