Acupuncture is great at balancing and optimising your fertility and treatment aims at supporting you in different stages of your menstrual cycle to improve your chances of conception. 

During IVF, I typically see women around egg collection, and immediately before and after transfer. I use the Paulus Protocole to balance the uterus and endocrine system, support implantation and calm the mind. Research shows a 42% increased chance of conception when combining IVF and acupuncture treatment.

The style of acupuncture I practice is very gentle and the acupuncture needles are extremely fine, approximately the thickness of a hair. They are very different from the needles used by a nurse or doctor to give injections. Sensation may vary from person to person but is commonly described as tingling, heat, tickling or dull ache. The sensation only lasts a short time and generally only four to ten needles are used during each treatment.

Acupuncture is not a painful treatment, it is surprisingly relaxing and many people will fall asleep on the couch!

You will be asked about your current symptoms, your medical history, current medication, diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. This will be followed by the traditional pulse & tongue diagnosis where your pulse on both arms is taken, along with a quick inspection of your tongue. Your blood pressure may be taken, followed by a short abdominal examination which involves gentle pressure over different areas of the abdomen. This traditional diagnostic will determine the most appropriate treatment for balancing your body’s energy.

It is best to eat a few hours before your treatment, or at least have a light snack before the treatment. Also, many of the acupuncture points are below the knee and below the elbow and can be more easily accessed if you wear loose and comfortable clothes.

Most people feel rested and relaxed after an acupuncture treatment, and it is a good idea to give yourself some quiet time after your treatment and avoid engaging in strenuous activity. Your first consultation may be longer than subsequent sessions. It can take up to 90mn and you will get your first treatment in that time. Subsequent treatments usually last between 45 min-1 hour, and include a discussion of your progress.

Everyone is unique, therefore your response to treatment will also be unique. Some people respond quickly and notice immediate benefits while others may take slightly longer to notice an improvement.

As a general rule I usually recommend about 4 weekly treatments to make a significant change, by this time you should know what effect the acupuncture is having on your system. After that we can diminish frequency of treatments depending on what suits you. At every treatment, we discuss what effect the acupuncture is having so you can decide how often you need a treatment. Usually, once the initial problem is more stable then people might come once every 4 or 6 weeks for a top up treatment.

Please note that if your problem is related to a menstrual issue then you will probably need treatment more regularly in order to balance hormones.

Yes, it is safe, if practiced by somebody who has been trained to a high standard and is fully insured and licensed. The needles used are single-use, sterile and disposable and researchers have found acupuncture to be a safe and effective treatment. Responses to treatment can sometimes include tiredness or mild dizziness, and occasionally minor bruising may occur. However, all such reactions are short-lived. Patients are asked to give a full medical history during their first appointment and this will be taken into account when planning treatments.

The use of acupuncture during pregnancy is increasingly popular because it is a safe, drug free approach ideal at this special time! Acupuncture can give an overall sense of calmness and well being, particularly useful for you and your baby during pregnancy. Antenatal treatment can address morning sickness, heartburn and musculo skeletal complaints amongst others. I use a pre birth protocole to prepare your body for birth and can teach you and your partner how to use acupressure for pain relief during labour.

Unfortunately advertising guidelines restrict the mention of treatment for specific symptoms or conditions by acupuncturists. However, Acupuncture is a system of healing that can help to alleviate a wide range of health complaints and issues, both physical and emotional. Acupuncture is not just for pain, the benefits can be felt on many different levels. In Chinese medicine, body, mind and spirit are seen as a whole – Eastern medicine offers an alternative way of looking at the body. Each person is different, therefore, the treatment plan for every individual is different, however, Sandra is always happy to discuss the possible benefits of Acupuncture with you: Do feel free to contact her with any questions.

In 2009 the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence recommended that acupuncture should be made available on the NHS, as a cost effective short term treatment for the management of early, persistent, non – specific lower back pain.

The British Acupuncture council have a number of fact sheets covering the latest Acupuncture research on a variety of conditions.

There are fact sheets on:

• Acne
• Allergic rhinitis
• Anxiety
• Back Pain
• Bell’s Palsy
• Cancer care
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Childbirth
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Colds and Flu
• COPD
• Cystitis Dentistry
• Depression
• Dysmenorrhoea (period pain)
• Eczema and Psoriasis
• Endometriosis
• Female fertility
• Fibromyalgia
• Frozen Shoulder
• Gastrointestinal tract disorders
• Headache
• Herpes
• Hypertension
• Infertility ART
• Insomnia
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Male infertility
• Menopausal symptoms
• Migraine
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Neuropathic pain
• Obesity
• Obstetrics
• Osteoarthritis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• PCOS
• Post-operative pain
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMT)
• Raynaud’s
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sciatica
• Sinusitis
• Sports Injuries
• Stress
• Stroke
• Substance misuse
• Tennis elbow
• Tinnitus
• Type-2 diabetes
• Urinary Incontinence
• Vertigo

To see these factsheets and the latest Acupuncture research please visit The British Acupuncture Council website