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January 4, 2021

Q&A with Carys Morgan, acupuncturist at HSFC

 

 

 

When embarking on your fertility journey with HSFC, alongside the fantastic expertise and state-of-the-art facilities and labs, we offer our patients the emotional support they need in their sometimes challenging path. This support can be in the form of counselling, acupuncture, hypnotherapy or simply our amazing staff’s kind and warm approach.

We are proud of taking part in webinars and Instagram lives to speak about the challenges that can be encountered during a fertility journey, and how we can support our patients.

 

At our Instagram live from December 2nd, (see recording here), we have had many questions related to acupuncture. Our acupuncturist Carys Morgan answers them all in this blog.

 

 

 

Acupuncture questions answered by Carys Morgan

 

 

Which areas should be treated?

Body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture.

 

Best time to start treatment?

As soon as possible.  Acupuncture is holistic and cumulative. The earlier a Chinese Medicine diagnosis is made the better in order to fully support every stage of the conception process.

Acupuncture is safe and drug-free and has much to offer throughout both pregnancy and childbirth, for instance:

-To stabilise early pregnancy;

-Support a threatened miscarriage;

-Alleviate morning sickness;

-Help with tiredness levels;

-Mood swings;

-Pubic symphysis Disorder;

-Acupuncture can help to turn a breach baby (week 32-35);

-Naturally and safely induce labour when medically indicated.

 

Whilst research suggests a generic protocol, I prefer to treat every woman as an individual. This affords less prescriptive and impersonal treatments and, in my opinion, gives better results.

Therefore, the more I get to understand everything about a patient to include their medical and personal history, the more effectively I can put an effective treatment plan into place

 

Can acupuncture help with low AMH?

Yes. I have had much experience in both improving and slowing down AMH levels

 

Premature ovarian failure?

Again, yes. By supporting the body and rebalancing female hormones, acupuncture can help and alleviate symptoms of ovarian failure

 

Short luteal phase?

Acupuncture can rebalance hormones and support the body in every aspect of the monthly cycle. It can help to normalise both follicular and luteal phases. Acupuncture can successfully encourage ovulation, and where needed, trigger the body into having a monthly bleed.

 

PCOS? High Prolactin?

I have found acupuncture to be very successful in treating PCOS. Huge topic to be discussed.

 

Low sperm count?

Unless of genetic origin, male count, motility and morphology can be significantly improved with acupuncture within a relatively short space of time.

 

Are there any risks and side effects of treatment?

No, acupuncture is safe and drug free with minimal side effects reported. A slight bruise from a needle is the only adverse effect I can report in my 20 years as an acupuncturist.

 

Average cost?

This can vary according to location of practice, length of treatment and experience of the Acupuncturist

 

What to look for when choosing an acupuncturist?

Acupuncture is not currently state registered. Therefore, it would be sensible to check the credentials and training of any potential practitioner.

The British Acupuncture Council is the main professional body that governs Acupuncturists in the  UK. They have a website that is easily accessible and offers a registrar of Practitioners.

It is worth noting that physiotherapists may offer a form of needling known as "dry needling" technique, they are not Chinese Medicine Practitioners. Their training is for bringing relief to physical injuries and they do not treat holistically.

It is important to choose an acupuncturist who you like and can trust due to the personal nature of disclosure during sessions.

 

Is acupuncture available during lockdown?

Acupuncture has very strict regulations regarding both lockdown and tier restrictions.

During the second Lockdown, Practitioners were permitted to treat urgent care and high-risk patients. High risk includes anyone who is suffering with high levels of emotional anxiety or physical discomfort. Discrimination is in the hands of the practitioners’ professional judgement.

IVF was considered to fall into the category of essential care during the second lockdown.