Laughing Post Embryo Transfer Increases Chance of Pregnancy
The thing I love most about this study is that it’s called “The Effect of Medical Clowning on Pregnancy Rates…” If you’re wondering what medical clowning is, it’s exactly as it sounds. Medical clowns are being used in healthcare settings with the idea that humour can be used to alleviate stress, address loneliness, and decrease […]
Case Study
Ambre Ambre – A 35 year old single female going through IVF for her first pregnancy. Possible PCOS – although not officially diagnosed (mentioned at an ultrasound by her fertility specialist), a history of period loss for 12 months at 25 years old. Intermittent OCP use from 16 years old until 30 years old. Otherwise […]
Ovulation Pain – a TCM Perspective
Pain is a protective mechanism for the body. It lets us know that something is wrong. Ovulation pain is no different. Ovulation pain or mittleschmerz (‘middle pain’) is low, one sided abdominal pain that occurs around ovulation (or egg release). It is really commonly experienced in women of all ages in varying degrees. Some women experience […]
How is hair loss and reduced milk supply after childbirth related?
These two symptoms seem like two completely separate problems, however in Chinese medicine they can be easily explained by the loss of blood from childbirth. In Chinese medicine, your Blood nourishes your head to give you glossy, shiny, thick hair. This is because of the increased blood supply your body has to support your new […]
IVF Partner – What You Can Do to Help
In over eight years working with women and families going through IVF, I have never been asked by a partner, “what can I do to help”….until two weeks ago. So I’ve had a couple of weeks to think about it and to get feedback from women going through their first, second or even fifth cycle […]
Improving Baby’s Position for Labour (Breech Position)
If your baby isn’t head down by 32-34 weeks, it’s a great time to start looking for natural options to encourage this to happen. Your obstetrician may have already discussed plans for a c-section or an external cephalic version. Both medical options have risks. Acupuncture and moxibustion are safe and effective natural options because they […]
Acupuncture for Period Pain – a TCM Perspective
Period pain in Chinese medicine can generally be caused by two things; stagnation or deficiency. Stagnation is the easiest to understand as it is when the blood or energy in your body slows down or stops completely. It causes pain because blood and energy cannot flow freely. You will get symptoms of clots in your […]
What is moxa?
It’s a really common question in clinic…what is moxa, closely followed by ‘what does it do?’ Moxa is a herb and moxibustion is an ancient technique which involves the burning of moxa to promote healing and wellbeing. In clinic, I use a smokeless moxa that sits on the top of needles and another type of […]
Aging and Environmental Factors Affect Embryo Growth
Recently, a comprehensive research paper was published in Fertility and Sterility detailing the effects of aging and environmental factors on egg, sperm and embryo growth and development. When you look at the statistics of IVF, the numbers aren’t great. Out of all eggs that are retrieved, only 7% of those will result in a full term […]
