Fertility

Fertility Support

We can optimize your ability to conceive naturally or work with your doctor to support your fertility treatment.

Increase Circulation

We help to reduce inflammation to aid embryo implantation and use acupuncture to increase the blood supply to the pelvis & uterus to support a healthy ovarian follicle.

Balance Hormones

Because acupuncture has a normalizing effect on reproductive hormones, it can be used to correct hormonal imbalances that prevent conception.

Support IVF & ART

We complement the treatment you receive from your RE or OB/GYN & work hand-in-hand with your physician to ensure that you are receiving integrative care.

We use the Yinova Method to treat a range of fertility conditions.

Explore some of the conditions we treat:

Amenorrhea

There are many reasons why you might not be getting your period. Amenorrhea can be related to over-exercising, nutritional deficiencies, PCOS, and hormonal imbalances, some of which affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Our experienced team of acupuncturists provide customized treatments and herbal formulas based on each specific case to help you ovulate and your cycles to become regular. Your practitioner may also suggest some dietary and lifestyle changes to support your treatments.

How to Help Yourself

Limit your aerobic exercise to 30m 4x/week until your cycle has been reset.

Include plenty of protein and healthy fats in your diet. Limit raw and cold foods and prioritize warming foods such as soup.

Take an essential fatty acid supplement to promote hormone balance.

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Decreased ovarian reserve

Our ovarian reserve decreases naturally as we age but this condition can also affect younger women, either when the supply of eggs runs out ahead of schedule or the eggs don’t respond to FSH and so don’t mature. Either way, estrogen levels drop because the follicles stop releasing the hormone. When estrogen levels fall, symptoms usually associated with menopause result: no menstrual period, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and low sex drive. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help a patient with decreased ovarian reserve by balancing hormones and helping each egg live up to its potential.

How to Help Yourself

Include some flax in your diet because it contains phytoestrogens, protein and healthy fats, which will support your hormonal balance.

Try ground flaxseeds on your breakfast cereal or flaxseed oil in your salad dressing (whole flaxseeds are not easily digested, so you reap less benefit).
Elevated FSH

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone released from the pituitary gland that tells the ovaries to start preparing an egg to ovulate each cycle. As you approach menopause, the hormones regulating the menstrual cycle begin to change. As we age, it can become elevated and higher levels are associated with decreased fertility. FSH levels fluctuate each cycle and can respond very well to acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Most fertility clinics require FSH to be within a certain range in order to proceed with reproductive treatments, so regulating this hormone can be very important for fertility and the success of treatments like IVF.

At home tips for relief:How to Help Yourself

If your FSH is high, establish whether you are ovulating and, if so, keep trying for natural conception

Use meditation and visualization techniques to reduce stress and help normalize FSH.

Avoid low calorie diets and limit coffee and alcohol.
Endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of pelvic pain that we see at Yinova. It can seriously affect your ability to conceive and can also cause uncomfortable, heavy or irregular periods. Sometimes there are no symptoms associated with endometriosis and it is only discovered when a patient is seeking treatment for infertility. We use a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs aimed at improving blood circulation, clearing inflammation, relieving pain and treating the patient’s underlying condition associated with their endometriosis. Patients with this condition may also benefit from making specific dietary changes to reduce their symptoms.

How to Help Yourself

Regular exercise promotes blood flow and in our clinic we have noticed that our endometriosis patients who exercise frequently respond better to treatment and show marked symptomatic improvement.

The liver is responsible for metabolizing excess estrogen and so supporting good liver function is an important part of a holistic strategy to treat endometriosis. Because of this we advise our Yinova patients with endometriosis to limit their alcohol consumption and avoid caffeine.

Adopting a low fat, high fiber, mostly plant-based diet can also help to relieve some of the symptoms associated with endometriosis.

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Immunological Factors

Chinese medicine has been shown in studies to help regulate the immune system. In cases of autoimmune disorders and immunological fertility barriers to fertility, acupuncture and specific Chinese herbs, often in combination with dietary and lifestyle changes, can help calm an overactive immune system, to support a healthy pregnancy.

How to Help Yourself

Avoid alcohol and smoking altogether, and keep refined sugar and caffeine to a minimum, as they all put extra stress on your immune system.

Load up on antioxidants such as vitamin C (in reasonable amounts), vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc, all of which are beneficial to the immune system. Include them in your diet and also consider supplements.

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Irregular Menses

Periods that come irregularly each month are very common and can make it difficult to conceive. Even if you are not trying to have a baby, Chinese medicine considers a regular menstrual rhythm to be an important sign of good health. Irregular menses can be caused by an imbalance that results in hormone fluctuations throughout the month. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used for hundred of years to balance hormones, restore rhythm, and encourage a more predictable ovulation, which helps regulate the menstrual cycle.

How to Help Yourself

Follow a diet that won’t stress your liver with too many synthetic compounds by prioritizing whole, unprocessed foods and eating plenty of fiber.

Aim for 60 percent vegetables and fruits, 30 percent complex carbohydrates, and 10 percent protein (lean meat, oily fish, low-fat cheese, nuts, and seeds).
IVF Support

Good clinical research has demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture used in conjunction with IVF, demonstrating a 50% increase in success rate with acupuncture vs. without. Acupuncture works to increase success rates of these interventions by increasing blood flow to the ovaries during the stimulation phase of IVF and by improving the effectiveness of the drugs given. It also relaxes the uterus and addresses uterine spasm after embryo transfer. Acupuncture also reduces stress, calms anxiety, and offsets side-effects of the fertility drugs.

How to Help Yourself

Follow the Making Babies program for your fertility type for three months before your IVF procedure begins, if you can.

Combine this with regular acupuncture and Chinese herbs for three months, as research has shown this is the optimal amount of treatment to support an IVF cycle.

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IUI Support

During an IUI cycle, acupuncture can help increase conception rates by increasing the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, improving the effectiveness of any medications used, and by assisting in the development of follicles and the uterine lining. Acupuncture also helps to address uterine spasm around the time of potential implantation and can treat any side effects that arise from the fertility drugs.

How to Help Yourself

Limit the amount of caffeine you consume because it can decrease the flow of blood to the uterus, which can interfere with implantation.

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Luteal Phase Defect (LPD)

A luteal phase lasting less than twelve days is too short for the endometrium to develop enough to properly support a fertilized egg. This is known as luteal phase defect. It’s a common endocrine disorder, present in a significant portion of our patients having trouble conceiving and more than a third of people with repeated early pregnancy loss. Low progesterone levels in the luteal phase are also an indicator of LPD. You might have a normal twelve- to-fourteen-day luteal phase but still have progesterone levels that are too low. The result is the same: if there’s not enough progesterone, the endometrium can’t develop and function properly. Some studies have implicated LPD in poor follicle development and insufficient levels of FSH and LH.

How to Help Yourself

Try chaste tree berry to help lengthen the luteal phase; take 16 drops of the tincture (or follow package instructions) twice a day from ovulation until your period begins. It is especially useful if you have a slow transition from the LH surge to ovulation.

Try red raspberry leaf, usually taken as a tea or tincture, to improve blood flow to the uterus. (Stop taking it when you become pregnant.)

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Male Factor Infertility

Male factor infertility accounts for 40% of couples struggling to conceive. Fertility acupuncture has been shown, in recent studies, to help improve sperm count, motility, and morphology, as well as correcting some immune factors such as anti-sperm antibodies that can interfere with conception. Treatments that affect sperm quality in both Chinese medicine and Western medicine can take a minimum of 3-4 months, so it is best to start as soon as possible

How to Help Yourself

We encourage all our patients to eat as much organic, unprocessed food as possible but this is particularly important for men trying to conceive because repeated studies have shown that environmental toxins have a negative impact on sperm quality and count.

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Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts can cause pelvic pain and interfere with a your ability to conceive. They can occur naturally or as a side effect of some fertility treatments. As Jill explained in her book Making Babies Chinese herbs can help to reduce cysts and are combined with acupuncture to treat the underlying causes, whether they are related to PCOS or other structural issues or hormone imbalances.

How to Help Yourself

Research shows that cows deprived of beta-carotene develop ovarian cysts and are slow to ovulate, and their fellow mammals—humans—work much the same way. You get beta-carotene in your diet from yellow and orange foods (including carrots, cantaloupe, and sweet potatoes), as well as from broccoli and leafy greens such as spinach.

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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is the most common anovulatory disorder and the single most common hormonal cause of infertility. Anyone with ovaries can develop PCOS, and in fact an estimated 10% of women have been diagnosed with this disorder. In PCOS, a hormonal dysfunction results in the ovaries not being able to fully mature an egg. Follicles begin to develop and build up fluid, but do not progress to the point where they release an egg. As a result, ovulation is either absent or intermittent. Because of this, some of the semi-developed follicles turn into little fluid-filled sacs known as cysts. Without the progesterone that matured follicles would make, menstruation is irregular or perhaps stops altogether. On top of that, the cysts make androgens (masculinizing hormones, although they exist in all people in different proportions), which can prevent ovulation. It can be a vicious cycle.

How to Help Yourself

Lose some weight if you need to. Studies show that losing just 10 percent of body weight can result in normal ovulation in patients with PCOS.

Cut down on animal fats and increase essential fatty acids (EFAs). Eat a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and low-fat protein such as chicken, fish, and beans. Get plenty of antioxidant nutrients from foods and supplements. They fight inflammation, which can exacerbate PCOS.

Balance your blood sugar by limiting your carbohydrate intake. Don’t cut out carbs altogether, though, as that can lower serotonin levels and leave you feeling depressed. Instead, eat healthy carbs such as whole grains.

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Recurrent Miscarriage

There are many causes of recurrent miscarriage, some of which can be addressed with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Our experienced acupuncturists can help determine potential imbalances leading to early pregnancy loss, and will refer to leading physicians for testing and concurrent medical treatment when appropriate. Studies have shown acupuncture can prevent some types of miscarriage, so we recommend newly pregnant people to continue acupuncture treatments into early pregnany.

How to Help Yourself

The key to treating repeated miscarriages is to figure out the cause by consulting your MD. Most doctors focus on hormones, anatomy (especially of the uterus), genetics (abnormal chromosomes in either partner or the fetus), and thrombophilia (overactive clotting). Those are likely causes, but it’s also worth investigating environmental, immunological, and infectious causes. In our experience, immunological problems and infections are the most commonly overlooked causes of repeated miscarriages. It’s also important to consider what’s going on in both partners, not just the woman.

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Hormone Imbalances

Diet, lack of sleep, and stress-filled lifestyles can very easily wreak havoc on our hormones in multiple ways. Stress can lead to chemical changes in our bodies, and can divert blood away from organs, included those associated with the digestive and reproductive systems. Since many hormones are dependent upon one another to remain balanced, over time, excess levels of stress can lead to imbalances in reproductive hormones, potentially affecting fertility. Acupuncture has been shown to offset the effects of stress on reproductive hormones and to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs. In conjunction with Chinese herbs, it can help your body to regain hormonal balance.

How to Help Yourself

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnips, mustard greens, kale, and the like contain a phytonutrient called diindolylmethane (DIM), which helps us to metabolize estrogen better.

That means that cruciferous veggies help combat the estrogen dominance that can lead to everything from PMS to irregular periods or menstrual cramps.

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Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign growths in the uterus and are often associated with heavy periods, cramping, bleeding, or spotting between periods, abdominal swelling, and sometimes pain during intercourse. They can also interfere with the ability to conceive. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be effective as treatment for fibroids or as an adjunctive treatment with Western medical interventions when fibroids are advanced in size.

How to Help Yourself

Many of our patients find that adopting a low fat, high fiber, mostly vegetarian diet is helpful. If you are overweight, losing a few pounds could help as excess fat increases the amount of estrogen in your system and that in turn causes fibroids to grow.

For the same reason avoid hormonally treated meat and dairy and eat as much organic produce as you can.

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Unexplained Infertility

A diagnosis of unexplained infertility can be one of the most difficult to receive. One of the many strengths of Chinese medicine is an emphasis menstrual cycle health and its ability to make subtle changes to the cycle that can improve fertility, even when no issues can be found with medical testing.

Follow the Making Babies Program

Take the Fertility Quiz and follow the Making Babies Program for the Stuck or Tired Type, depending on your results.

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Find Your Fertility Type

In her book Making Babies, our founder Dr. Jill Blakeway identifies five fertility types and offers fertility-enhancing suggestions for each type.

Dry

Pale

Stuck

Tired

Water Logged

Take The Fertility Quiz

Yinova’s proven 3-month fertility program

Our 3-month plan to get your body in optimal shape for conception is based on the Yinova Method outlined in Dr. Jill Blakeway’s book, Making Babies.

Read The Book Book An Appointment

Depth

We take the time to diagnose you, identifying your unique fertility needs.
Individual

We adapt treatments weekly to support the phases of your cycle.
Holistic

We treat your whole body to prepare it for pregnancy.
Integrative

We integrate our treatments by working with your RE or OB/GYN.
Accessible

Open 7-days-a-week to support ARTs & other fertility treatments.
Accountable

We set goals to give you a realistic idea of what we can achieve.

Related Fertility Resources

See All Fertility Posts

NYC Fertility: A Yinova Specialty

Our treatment is based on Jill’s book “Making Babies” and includes regular acupuncture & herbal medicine, combined with lifestyle & dietary advice.

Fertility Support

Increase Circulation

Balance Hormones

Support IVF & ART

We use the Yinova Method to treat a range of fertility conditions.

Find Your Fertility Type

Yinova’s proven 3-month fertility program

Depth

Individual

Holistic

Integrative

Accessible

Accountable

There is a measurable increase in pregnancy success rates when IVF is used in conjunction with acupuncture vs without.

Acupuncture offsets the effects of stress on some reproductive hormones, according to clinical research.

82% of women with Endometriosis saw their symptoms mostly or entirely alleviated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Acupuncture has been shown to help women with PCOS ovulate.

Related Fertility Resources

Should Your Partner Be Coming in For Fertility Treatments As Well?

Making Babies

Fight or Flight or Fertility

TTC

Recovering from a Traumatic Loss in Fertility: How to Use Chinese Medicine to Treat Stress and Anxiety

Reproductive Health

Endometriosis - A Chinese Medicine Approach

Making Babies

How To Use An Ovulation Predictor Kit

Fertility

How To Know When You Are Most Fertile (by Monitoring Your Fertile Cervical Mucus)

ART

What is an IUI & How Can Acupuncture Support the Process?

Making Babies

How to Have Sex (if you're trying to conceive).

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