Ingredients: Jujube, Longan Fruits, Gouqi berry and water boiled for a few minutes
This tea can help nourish blood, calm the mind and improve sleep.
Read more about acupuncture here <www.drmaggiejuacupuncture.co.uk>A leading acupuncture specialist for pain relief, vulvodynia, fertility and miscarriage, facial rejuvenation, stress and anxiety. This blog introduces acupuncture research update to help you understand acupuncture.
Ingredients: Jujube, Longan Fruits, Gouqi berry and water boiled for a few minutes
This tea can help nourish blood, calm the mind and improve sleep.
Read more about acupuncture here <www.drmaggiejuacupuncture.co.uk>How many eggs retrieved in IVF are good numbers?
IVF becomes a popular technique for infertility treatment
since it was invented 30 years ago. During the procedure it is difficult to
predict the side effect and success for individuals. IVF success rate is
related to egg number retrieved in the procedure. What is the optimum number of
eggs for IVF? Is there a connection between egg numbers and live birth rate
(LBR)? Ji J et al analysed the data from 2007 and 2011 from total 2455 patients
who was undergoing first cycle of IVF treatment. All patients had normal
menstrual cycles and were stimulated with a long GnR agonist protocol.
Associations between egg number and LBR and miscarriage rate and the rate of
moderate-severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) were analysed. These
patients were divided into four groups according to the egg number retrieved:
0-5, 6-10,11-15 and >15. The fresh embryo transfer LBR and cumulative LBR
were assessed. Their data suggested that for IVF cycles stimulated with a long
protocol the optimal number of eggs for achieving a live birth is between 6-15.
With increased egg number, the incidence of moderate-severe OHSS was increased.
There was no significant difference in the miscarriage rates among the patient
groups.
There was another research studied the association between egg
number and the rates of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and live birth
in fresh IVF cycles. In this research they analysed data from 256381 IVF
cycles. Patients were divided into five groups according to the egg numbers
retrieved. The data showed that the LB rate increased up to 15 eggs, then
levelled (0-5: 17%, 6-10: 31.7%; 11-15: 39.3%; 16-20: 42.7%; 21-25: 43.8%; and
>25 oocytes: 41.8%). While the rate of OHSS became much more clinically
significant after 15 eggs (0-5: 0.09%; 6-10: 0.37%; 11-15: 0.93%; 16-20: 1.67%;
21-25: 3.03%; and >25 oocytes: 6.34%). These data showed that retrieval more
than 15 eggs significantly inceases OHSS risk without improving LB rate in
fresh IVF cycles.
Acupuncture reduces pain in IVF egg retrieval
Acupuncture has been used to assist IVF. There are different
approaches for the use. Using acupuncture on the day of egg retrieval could
help reduce pain. There was a study on this subject to observe analgesic effect
and safety of acupuncture in egg retrieval. In this study 316 patients
undergoing IVF were divided into two groups acupuncture plus anaesthesia group
(146 patients) and a simple anaesthesia (control) group (170 patients). The
treatments were carried out 30 min before egg retrieval. They found that pain
rating and pain score were significantly better for acupuncture group than that
for control group. The incidence rate of abdominal pain at 1hour and 2-5 hour
after egg retrieval was lower for acupuncture group. There was no side effect
found. Recently there was another study on the effect of acupuncture on pain in
egg retrieval. In this study there were 90 patients participated the study. The
treatments were also carried out 30 min before egg retrieval. Pain rated index
(PRI), visual analogy scale (VAS) and present pain intensity (PPI) were used to
measure pain. The result showed that PRI, VAS and PPI immediate after and 1
hour after egg retrieval were significantly lower for acupuncture group than
that for control group. They also found that neuropeptide level in follicular
fluid is higher in acupuncture group which may be the mechanism of acupuncture
analgesic effect on egg retrieval.
Nedeljkovic M et al
Forsch Komplementmed (2013) 20:112-8
Manheimer E et al
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Zheng CH et al Evid Based
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Kong FY et al
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu (2012) 32:113-116
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Dieterle S et al
Fertil Steril (2006) 85:1347-51
Isoyama D et al
Acupunct Med (2012) 30:85-8
Balk J et al
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Villahemosa et al
Acupunct Med 2013 31:157-62
Meng P et al Zhongguo
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Fertil Steril (2014) S0015-0282
Ji J et al Hum Reprod
(2013) Jul 25
What is basal body temperature? Basal body temperature (BBT) is the lowest body temperature during rest. It is usually measured in the morning as soon as you wake up and before you engage any physical activity. In women, BBT changes with the menstrual cycles. If you make a daily BBT chart in a full menstrual cycle you can see the BBT chart is biphasic which means there are two temperature phases. Ovulation increases BBT for about up to 0.5 degree Celsius. The average BBT is 36.37 ±0.12 ºC during follicular phase (the phase prior to ovulation) and 36.72 ±0.12 ºC in luteal phase (the phase after ovulation). If conception does not occur, the temperature goes down and then the next menstrual cycle starts. If the conception occurs, the temperature stays at the higher level until the end of first trimester of the pregnancy.
If you are trying to conceive, making your BBT chart is the
easiest way to know if or when you are ovulated precisely, though it does not
predict ovulation. Your BBT chart also can tell if your body is the best form
and is ready to sustain a pregnancy. BBT was regulated by hormones estrogen and
progesterone which produced by ovaries. High levels of estrogen lower BBTs
while high levels of progesterone increase BBTs. If your BBT chart is normal,
this means your ovaries are functioning well and you are ready for pregnancy.
If you have difficulty to conceive, it may reflex on your
BBT chart. For example, if you are not ovulating, your BBT chart does not have
two phases. If you have short luteal phase which is difficult to sustain your
pregnancy it shows a disturbed BBT chart. If your first three day’s BBT is
greater than 36.6 ºC, this may be associated with endometriosis.
Read more about acupuncture for fertility <drmaggiejuacupuncture.co.uk>
If you are having difficulty to conceive, what could go wrong? Things could go wrong either in women or in men or both. About one-third of infertility is caused by women’s problem. Another one third is due to men’s problem. The remaining one third is caused by both women and men.
Egg and sperm quality
High quality of eggs is essential for conceiving. Women are born with millions
of follicles. These follicles stay in the cortex of ovaries where they will
develop and some of them will be mature and released. This is a long process
and it takes about a year for an egg to develop and to be released. The
original follicles are preantral type of follicles. These follicles are in deep
sleep stage. Some of them will wake up and be recruited to develop. This is preantral
development which is a slow process and it takes about 10 months. This process
is hormone independent. After 10 months of development, some of them will be
selected to develop to dominant follicles. It takes about 2 months for these
dominant follicles to develop to a preovulatory stage. This stage is hormone
dependent. And then one of the follicles will be mature and released in 15-20
days which is highly depending hormone balance.
Hormonal balance is the key in human reproductive system. In women, there are
five hormones involved in reproductive function: gonadotropin-releasing hormone
(GnRH) produced in hypothalamus (a part of the brain), follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) both produced in pituitary gland
(another part of the brain), and oestrogen and progesterone both produced in
ovaries located in pelvis. To be fertile, these five hormones have to be well
balanced, which means they have to be at the right level at the right time. If
the balance is disturbed at any points in a cycle, this would affect fertility.
Most of the infertility in women is caused by imbalanced hormones. Hormonal
imbalance could cause poor egg development; as a result, poor quality egg is
produced (fertilization is affected) or no egg is released in the mid-cycle.
Hormonal imbalance could also cause poor uterine lining affecting implantation
and causing early pregnancy loss.
The hormonal system is very sensitive, even a slightly change can disrupt
hormonal production leading to anovulation. Common causes related to hormonal
imbalance include stress, anxiety and eating disorders which are associated
with inhibition of GnRH production in hypothalamus. Polycystic ovarian syndrome
(PCOS) is the most common cause of infertility which is associated with hormonal
imbalance. Excessive male hormones (androgens) were produced in women with
PCOS. Another hormonal imbalance is excessive production of hormone LH which is
involved in stimulating ovary to produce hormones.
Sperm production in men is different. Sperm production and maturation takes
about 74 days. Sperm production takes place in testicles where temperature is
lower than body temperature. This process is hormone dependent and follicular
stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luternizing hormone (LH) are involved in the
process. This process takes about 60 days. Sperms produced then mature in
epididymis where they obtain motility and it take about 14 days.
In men there are four hormones involved in reproductive function: GnRH, FSH and
LH produced in brain, and testosterone produced in testicle located in scrotum.
Hormonal imbalance in men causes poor sperm development resulting in low sperm
count and/or poor sperm quality. Stress can disturb hormonal balance affecting
men’s fertility.
To improve fertility, correcting hormonal imbalance is the key. It takes time
(at least a few months) to restore hormonal balance; sometimes it takes much
longer than you expected. So determination and patience are needed to achieve
the goal. Acupuncture treatment could help restoring hormonal balance by
stimulating sympathetic nerve and lowering sympathetic activity. Balanced diet
and regular exercises could also help.
Local chronic inflammation is another important factor causing infertility. In
women inflammation in pelvic area could cause fallopian tube spasm which blocks
the eggs passing through. After lower abdominal surgery, or following pregnancy
loss, inflammation could occur in pelvic area. Endometriosis causes
inflammation in pelvic area surrounding the misplaced tissue affecting
ovulation, egg transportation. Endometriosis is another common cause for
infertility. In men inflammation in scrotum could impair sperms. Reducing local
inflammation can significantly improve fertility in relatively short time, if
there is no hormonal imbalance involved in infertility. Acupuncture can help
reducing local inflammation by stimulating nerve endings and improving local
blood flow.
Low AMH
AMH is short for anti-mullerian hormone. It is a substance made by small
follicles in women’s ovaries. When the follicles grow bigger, they are no
longer producing AMH. Since AMH is produced only in smaller follicles and its
blood levels are constant, AMH has been used to measure the size of the pool of
growing follicles in women. AMH blood levels reflect the size of the remaining
egg supply. If your AMH is low, it means your egg supply is poor. With
increasing women’s age, the size of their pool of remaining small follicles
decreases. Their AMH levels and the number of ovarian small follicles visible on
ultrasound also decrease. Some women may have problems of recruitment and
development of follicles; in this case they have fewer follicles developed and
their AMH tends to be low. Women with low AMH would have less chance to have
good quality eggs. So they may have difficulty to conceive naturally. Women
with low AMH level are likely to have poor response to ovarian stimulation for
IVF and have fewer eggs retrieved. This reduces their chance to conceive via
IVF.
Read more about how acupuncture can help to balance hormones at <drmaggiejuacupuncture.co.uk>
Roast Barley to brown and store in an air tight container. To make tea, add one spoon of roasted Barley and boiling water to a cup and leave it for 10 min.
Benefits of Barley tea. It contains vitamins along with antioxidants. Good for digestion, reducing bloating, anti-inflammatory and antiaging.
Read more about acupuncture at drmaggiejuacupuncture.co.uk.
The health benefits of rose tea are improving Qi and blood circulation, alleviating menstrual pain, antiaging effects, reducing allergic reactions, improving liver and heart health, anti inflammatory and anti arthritic effects, reducing stress, calming, soothing and anti depression, reducing fatigue, helping wound healing etc.
Read more about acupuncture at drmaggiejuacupuncture.co.uk
Stress is a natural response of the body to harmful situations, and its symptoms can vary from person to person. Emotional symptoms may incl...