Dr Maggie Ju Acupuncture London Chelsea, North Kensington, Notting Hill, and Richmond

Hormones are the body's messengers, regulating various physiological processes and ensuring the body functions efficiently. These chemical messengers play a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being. When your hormones are balanced, your body operates harmoniously, allowing you to feel and perform your best. However, imbalances in hormones can lead to a range of health issues. In this article, we will explore why it's essential to maintain balanced hormones and how you can achieve this equilibrium for a healthier life. Understanding Hormones Hormones are chemical substances produced by glands in the endocrine system. These glands include the thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, and ovaries/testes, among others. Hormones travel through the bloodstream to target organs and tissues, where they instruct these areas on how to function properly. Key Hormones and Their Functions: Estrogen and Testosterone: These sex hormones play a significant role in reproductive health and hav

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has revolutionized the field of reproductive medicine, offering hope to millions of couples struggling with infertility. One crucial aspect of the IVF process is the assessment and grading of embryos. Embryo grading plays a pivotal role in determining the quality and viability of embryos, aiding fertility specialists in selecting the most promising embryos for transfer. In this article, we delve into the significance of embryo grading and its impact on the success of IVF procedures. Understanding Embryo Grading: Embryo grading involves the systematic evaluation of various characteristics of embryos to assess their quality and developmental potential. Typically, embryos are graded based on two main factors: morphology and development rate. Morphology: Embryo morphology refers to the visual appearance and structure of the embryo. Experts examine parameters such as cell number, symmetry, fragmentation, and the presence of specific structures, such as the inner

In recent years, the process of freezing eggs has revolutionized fertility preservation for women. This procedure, known as oocyte cryopreservation, allows women to preserve their eggs at a younger age when they are typically healthier and more fertile, thereby extending their reproductive options. While egg freezing itself offers tremendous advantages, the complementary use of acupuncture has emerged as a supportive therapy, offering potential benefits for enhancing female fertility during the process. What is Egg Freezing Egg freezing involves extracting a woman's eggs, freezing them at very low temperatures, and storing them for future use. This technique has become increasingly popular among women who wish to delay pregnancy for various personal or medical reasons. It provides them with the opportunity to preserve their fertility potential and have more control over their reproductive choices. The Supportive Role of Acupuncture Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practic

Female infertility is a growing concern on a global scale, and numerous studies have explored the potential benefits of acupuncture in addressing this issue. With advancements in scientific and medical technologies, research focused on acupuncture's effectiveness in treating female infertility has witnessed a surge. The findings thus far have consistently indicated that acupuncture can have a positive impact on the treatment of female infertility. One key aspect of acupuncture's mechanism of action in enhancing female fertility lies in its ability to regulate reproductive hormones. There are five crucial hormones involved in the reproductive process: GnRH, FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone. Maintaining a delicate balance of these hormones at the appropriate levels is vital for the proper functioning of the reproductive system and successful conception. However, when these hormones become imbalanced and their levels fluctuate, women may experience difficulties in getting pregn

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition characterized by a decline in ovarian function before the age of 40, which is a significant contributor to female infertility. This condition is marked by elevated levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), along with low levels of estradiol (E2). Common symptoms of POI include menstrual disturbances, as well as menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia. Additionally, POI increases the risk of decreased bone mineral density and cardiovascular disease. The incidence of POI is estimated to be around 1%–5%. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has established guidelines for the diagnosis of POI. According to these guidelines, the diagnostic criteria include age younger than 40, oligo/amenorrhea for at least 4 months, and FSH levels higher than 25 mIU/ml on two occasions separated by at least 4 weeks. While the exact causes of POI remain unclear, they may

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone produced in the brain that plays a crucial role in the development of follicles in the ovaries, leading to the production of estrogen and progesterone. When the ovaries are not functioning optimally, they fail to respond to the stimulation provided by FSH. In such cases, the brain compensates by increasing the production of FSH, thereby urging the ovaries to work harder. Consequently, the level of FSH in the body becomes elevated. For women who desire to conceive, it is essential that their ovaries are functioning properly and producing eggs. A normal range of FSH levels indicates healthy ovarian function. Conversely, if FSH levels are low within the normal range, it signifies that the ovaries are functioning effectively. Research suggests that acupuncture can be beneficial in improving ovarian function and reducing FSH levels. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the existing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a substance that is produced in small ovarian follicles measuring less than 4 mm. These follicles are so tiny that they cannot be detected through ultrasound imaging. As the follicles grow, the production of AMH decreases and eventually ceases. In fact, follicles larger than 8 mm produce almost no AMH at all. Consequently, the levels of AMH in the blood remain relatively constant. Researchers have utilized the measurement of AMH in the blood as a means to assess the size of the pool of developing follicles in women. This pool size is greatly influenced by the number of remaining non-growing follicles. Hence, AMH levels are believed to reflect the size of the remaining egg supply, commonly referred to as "ovarian reserve." Due to its consistent levels, the AMH test can be conducted on any day of a woman's menstrual cycle. Women with a limited number of remaining follicles typically exhibit low levels of AMH. As a woman ages, her AMH levels d

Acupuncture has gained wide recognition as a valuable adjunct to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Numerous studies have explored the positive impact of acupuncture on female infertility and its ability to enhance the success of IVF procedures. A recent review has carefully examined this phenomenon and revealed compelling evidence supporting the efficacy of acupuncture. Specifically, six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted over the past three years involving IVF-ET (embryo transfer) patients demonstrated significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates among those who received acupuncture compared to those who did not. For instance, one study demonstrated that acupuncture can improve the production of high-quality embryos in IVF patients. Another study revealed that acupuncture treatment leads to increased levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in IVF patients, facilitating enhanced blood flow in the endometrial artery. These physiological changes are crucial for s

Endometrial receptivity (ER) refers to the ability of the endometrium, or uterine lining, to accept embryos for implantation, which is a crucial step in achieving pregnancy. ER undergoes changes throughout the menstrual cycle, and there are only a few days when the uterine lining is optimal for embryo implantation. This timeframe, known as the implantation window, typically occurs 6-10 days after ovulation, which falls between the 20th and 24th day of a normal menstrual cycle. Research has indicated that a thin endometrium is closely associated with a low pregnancy rate. When the average size of follicles reaches 18 mm and the endometrial thickness is less than 7.0 mm, embryo implantation is greatly affected. While higher-quality embryos are typically selected for transfer in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles, only a few of them successfully implant. Studies have shown that up to 75% of pregnancy losses can be attributed to implantation failure, with two-thirds of

Women primarily produce progesterone in the ovaries. Following ovulation, the production of progesterone increases rapidly. Its concentration reaches its peak during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, particularly from day 19 to day 22. Progesterone plays several essential roles in the female reproductive system. It prepares the inner lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, for potential implantation of a fertilized egg. Additionally, it inhibits further ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to penetrate. If fertilization does not occur, the level of progesterone drops, leading to the onset of menstruation. However, in the event of fertilization and successful implantation, the placenta generates a significantly higher amount of progesterone during pregnancy. Throughout this period, progesterone plays a crucial role in preventing miscarriage. It achieves this by reducing the maternal immune response, enabling the acceptance of the p

Male factor infertility accounts for almost half of all infertility cases, with about 50% of men evaluated for infertility showing abnormal semen parameters. Interestingly, the treatment of acupuncture for male infertility can be traced back to the classic A–B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing) in the Western Jin Dynasty, which dates back around 2,000 years ago in China. The earliest study of acupuncture for male infertility in Western countries dates back to 1984. The study investigated the effect of acupuncture on male fertility and psychological well-being, and the results showed a significant increase in sperm concentration and motility after acupuncture treatment. Similar findings were also reported by other researchers, where all semen parameters of 16 subfertile patients treated with acupuncture showed significant improvement in total functional sperm fraction, percentage of viability, total motile spermatozoa per ejaculate, and integrity of the axon

 

 

There are certain foods associated with Christmas, and nuts including walnuts, brazil nuts, hazelnuts and pecans are one of them. Where are the ideas from? This goes back to pre-Christian time, the shortest day of the year which is often 21st and 22nd of December. It was celebrated by encouraging light to return. Feast is used to celebrate. In Christian time, Christmas became such an important feast and every luxury item was saved up for it. Nuts were harvested in autumn and were available to store for the big festival. Eating nuts at Christmas became such an important part of the celebration. Do you know that nuts promote your fertility? Nuts are important part of fertility nutrition; this is because they contain ample protein, minerals and essential fatty acids. Eating nuts provides vegetable proteins you need and this promotes your ovulation. There is high level of selenium, a natural antioxidant in Brazil nuts and this plays a key role in the early stages of conception. Nuts with

 

 

About 1 in 6 couples have difficulty conceiving and seek specialist fertility treatment. There are various treatments available depending on the causes of the infertility. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of the most successful treatments for couples with infertility, however it is still not 100% success. Some treatments that can increase the success rate of IVF would be preferable to support IVF. Acupuncture is one of the candidates. Here is a list of 10 reasons why you should have acupuncture as an adjunct treatment of your IVF. No1 There are no side effects of acupuncture treatment. It does not cause any harm and does not interact with any medications for whatever protocols you have for IVF. No2 IVF is a very stressful procedure. It makes women anxious about it. Stress and anxiety could affect IVF success. Acupuncture that is proved by research can reduce stress and anxiety score during IVF treatment. No3 Acupuncture reduce inflammation. If there is inflammation around the abdomi

No1, reduce stress. Stress impacts fertility more than you imagined. If you are stressed, it can make your hormone imbalanced. Many women have experience that when they are stressed, their period arrives earlier than it should; or they have spots break out. Acupuncture can effectively reduce the stress. No2, improves blood circulation. Good blood circulation is essential for the body to preform including ovaries and uterus. Many researches have shown that acupuncture can improve blood circulation to the body and ovaries and uterus. No3, reduce inflammation. Metabolism products from inflammation can have toxic effects to the organs include reproductive system. Acupuncture can effectively reduce inflammation and has detoxing effect. No4, release tension and muscle spasms. Tension and muscle spasm in the body can compromise micro blood circulation in the body including ovaries and uterus. Acupuncture can release all the tensions. No5, rebalance hormones. Follicle development depends on ho

What is miscarriage? A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. About 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. An early miscarriage is the loss of pregnancy at ≤13 weeks’ pregnancy. About one in four pregnancies, where a woman has missed a menstrual period and has a positive pregnancy test, ends in early miscarriage. 3 or more miscarriages in a row are known as recurrent miscarriages. The impact of a miscarriage on women Miscarriage can be a physical and emotional challenge. It can have a potentially devastating psychological impact on the woman in addition to the physical effects such as bleeding and pain after all the excitement and expectation by discovering the pregnancy. It is very common to feel sad and tearful after being shocked by the tragic event. Feeling angry, jealous or guilty is also common. There are feelings of emptiness and loneliness that others cannot understand; feeling not able to cope with daily life. There is fear

Acupuncture helps implantation When an egg is fertilised by a sperm, an embryo is formed and developing. At the same time, there are also changes in the uterus to prepare the arrival of the embryo. When an embryo arrives at the uterus, it will implant into uterine wall. A successful implantation depends on the synchronous development of both the endometrium and embryo. Uterine inner lining gets thicker, uterine smooth muscles are relaxed after ovulation. There is also communication between the uterine cells and the embryo to get the best time of implantation. Delayed implantation time will lead to implantation failure or miscarriage. During the development of uterine inner lining uterine blood circulation is the key factor to get ready for implantation. After embryo implanted, the embryo initially takes nutrients and oxygen from maternal blood circulation system and removes the waste via maternal blood circulation system. Good uterine blood circulation is essential for early stage of