Gynaecological conditions
Infertility
Supporting IVF
Pregnancy
Olivia Shaw has a special interest in the treatment of gynaecological conditions, infertility and pregnancy with Chinese medicine. Much of her work in recent years has focused on these areas and she has carried out additional postgraduate training in infertility and pregnancy. Olivia also has a comprehensive knowledge of Western medical diagnoses relating to infertility and the conventional medical tests and investigations which can be recommended by your gynaecologist or fertility specialist. She is committed to the principle of integrated healthcare and welcomes the opportunity to liaise with your GP or specialist to ensure that you receive the best care possible.
Gynaecological conditions
Chinese medicine has a long tradition of treating gynaecological conditions and its effectiveness in this area is gradually being recognised by conventional medicine.
It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Amenorrhea (absent periods) after taking the contraceptive pill and post-partum;
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Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS) and its related symptoms, such as irregular or absent periods and anovulation;
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Endometriosis;
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Dysmennorhoea (painful periods);
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Irregular and heavy periods;
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Premenstrual syndrome (PMT);
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Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, anxiety, nightsweats and irregular sleeping patterns; and
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Recurrent thrush and urinary infections.
Here is an article that Olivia Shaw wrote for Verity, the PCOS Self-help group, about the benefits of acupuncture treatment for PCOS. |
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Infertility
Infertility is an increasing problem for many couples and this is reflected in the growing number of men and women who are using Chinese medicine to maximise their fertility.
Infertility can be caused by many different biomedical conditions and a significant proportion of couples, receive the frustrating diagnosis of “unexplained infertility”, where no underlying cause can be found. Chinese medicine is a natural and effective treatment for infertility and attempts to treat underlying energetic imbalances and patterns of disharmony which may be preventing a couple from conceiving. In addition, we always combine our infertility treatment with lifestyle advice, since factors such as dietary habits, smoking and stress can have a profound influence on fertility.
On a more specific level, Chinese medicine can help to regulate menstrual cycles, encourage ovulation and improve blood flow to the reproductive organs and lining of the uterus. It can also be used to used to address more specific dysfunctions such as PCOS, endometriosis and functional tubal blockages, although it is less effective for structural tubal blockages, where Western medicine often offers the best solution with surgery or IVF treatment. Chinese medicine can also improve male fertility and over the course of a three month period, the quality and quantity of sperm can improve with regular treatment and lifestyle changes.
We constantly assess the progress of treatment with our patients and although we regularly see how effective Chinese medicine can be, we also recognise that Chinese medicine is not a panacea for infertility. For this reason Olivia Shaw does not allow treatment to continue indefinitely and has no hesitation in recommending that patients consider Assisted Reproductive Techniques if they are still not managing to conceive after a reasonable period of time. |
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Supporting IVF
The impact of acupuncture during IVF treatment has received an enormous amount of attention in recent years due to the results of a randomised controlled trial carried out in Germany in 2002. This study found that pregnancy rates of 42.5% were achieved when acupuncture was combined with IVF/ICSI, compared to 26.3% with no acupuncture. This study has since been repeated with certain modifications and similar results have been obtained in some of these studies. You can read more about them at http://www.eastwindsacupuncture.com/MedicalArticles.html.
Each acupuncturist has their own way of working, but we recommend the following based on our experience of offering acupuncture during IVF treatment:
- Consistent acupuncture before your IVF treatment begins can help to prepare the mind and body for your forthcoming cycle of treatment.
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If you are on a “long protocol” then acupuncture during down-regulation is not always necessary. However, if you are experiencing side-effects from your down-regulating medication, acupuncture can be used to moderate any uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flushes, irritability, disturbed sleep and excessive thirst and sweating. During this phase of treatment we always take care not to stimulate the body, which could potentially interfere with the desired effect of the down-regulating medication.
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When you are taking your stimulating medication acupuncture can help to enhance the body’s response and thicken the endometrium. If you are someone who appears to be overstimulating, then acupuncture can be used to calm the body and avoid cancellation of a cycle
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Acupuncture around the time of egg collection is very useful, as it can help to calm the mind during the anxious waiting period before transfer and assists the body’s healing process after the procedure.
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Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer is recommended and Olivia Shaw always tries to ensure that she is available for embryo transfer treatments, even if they occur at the weekend
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After transfer we often recommend a gentle treatment a few days later to assist implantation.
Please do contact us if you would like to find out more about the support that acupuncture can offer you during IUI, IVF and ICSI cycles. |
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Pregnancy
Acupuncture is a gentle treatment, which can address many of the issues that arise during pregnancy. Some of the most common complaints that we treat are:
• Morning sickness and pregnancy nausea;
• Backache and sciatica;
• Symphysis pubis dysfunction;
• Indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain and constipation;
• Malpresentation including breech presentation (week 33+); and
• Breast tenderness, mastitis and post-natal depression.
We also offer “pre-birth acupuncture” from week 36 onwards which helps to prepare you for labour and has been shown to reduce the duration of labour, rates of induction and medical intervention during the birth. The treatment is aimed specifically at using acupuncture points which soften the cervix, aid in dilation and relax the ligaments prior to labour. In the event that you do go past your due date, acupuncture induction can be used help you to avoid a medical induction. |
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