For many couples, their greatest shared ambition is to have children and to raise them in a loving and caring environment. And when it comes to the right time to have a child, many people assume that they just need to stop using contraception and they will become pregnant. But what happens when they don’t?
For many men and women, trying to conceive can be a long and difficult process that can put both parties under immense emotional strain. It is estimated that one in seven UK couples has difficulty conceiving. Known causes of infertility include: ovulatory disorders, tubal damage, low sperm count or quality. Sadly, in 30% of couples the cause of infertility remains unexplained.
Many couples may turn to IVF, IUI or Clomid, which can have some success. However, these methods can be long, expensive and emotionally draining for all involved, especially for those who endure multiple cycles of both. A popular adjunct treatment for couples to use alongside Western techniques is Fertility Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to help boost their chances of becoming pregnant. With a string of qualifications behind her name as long as your arm, acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist of 14 years Jo George (MSc Chinese herbal medicine; BSc (Hons) Acupuncture; Dip. Acu (China); Two Dips Chinese Herbal Medicine) is well placed to comment on these two ancient healing practices. Jo has helped thousands of couples who have undergone treatments at many of London’s major IVF clinics, and others suffering from conditions such as fibroids; endometriosis; polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS); to miscarriage and menopause.
Jo George initially started her own acupuncture clinic in Highgate, North London, over 10 years ago and after starting a family has relocated to The Broad Street Practice in Stamford. Driven by her keen interest in research, Jo received a distinction for her MSc study on treating male infertility with Chinese herbal medicine, and explains “gold standard research has established that acupuncture can regulate fertility hormones; increase blood flow to the reproductive organs; and can counter the effects of PCOS”. She continues: “Furthermore, by combining acupuncture with embryo transfer in IVF, 65% more women are likely to have a successful embryo transfer procedure and 91% more likely to have a live birth.”
However, Jo is keen to point out that “Western and Eastern medicines work together or apart. Both men and women often come to prepare themselves before they start a course of IVF or IUI, but besides complementing Western techniques, acupuncture can still help many of the couples who do not want to do IVF or take drugs. As the research has shown, acupuncturists can still offer a plausible alternative.”
Jo practices Traditional acupuncture, which is based on Chinese medicine principles that have been developed, researched and refined for over 2,500 years. It is a safe treatment that can be effective for conditions that don’t always respond well to conventional medicine, such as fertility, stress, insomnia, migraine, anxiety, depression, muscular-skeletal conditions and lower back pain. In fact, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has endorsed and recommends acupuncture treatment for non-specific back pain, migraine and tension-type headaches, whilst researchers at York university recently found acupuncture versus antidepressant medication resulted in a significant reduction in the symptoms of depression.
For a free informal preliminary chat with Jo call 07914 851995
For appointments please contact The Broad Street Practice on 01780 480889.
Jo George is a Professional and Fully Insured Member of The British Acupuncture Council and Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine
