“Can acupuncture really help make me more fertile and, if so, how does it work?”

This is a question patients ask me all the time and I understand why. It seems so improbable that tiny hair-like needles could have such a profound effect. At The YinOva Center most of our patients find out about us because they were referred by a friend or by their doctor. They have heard stories about how acupuncture has helped other people to conceive a baby. However it’s good to have more than anecdotal evidence about why something works and fortunately these days there is a growing body of clinical data that begins to explain acupuncture’s effect on the reproductive system.

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Susan was a long-term fertility patient who was overjoyed to find out that she was pregnant. “Should I still come and see you every week”, she asked me.

The answer is only if you want to. If you find acupuncture relaxing and useful feel free to visit us hear at the YinOva Center as much as you like. However, most pregnant women visit us only when they need us and I encourage them to use us as a resource coming in when they are uncomfortable.

Pregnancy is not an illness and most women do not need regular ongoing treatment. However acupuncture can be an excellent choice to address common pregnancy ailments in a safe, gentle, drug-free manner. The needles we use a small and hair-like, the treatment is relatively painless and there are no adverse side effects for either you or your baby.

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Fertility and Fats:

Fats to eat and fats to avoid when you’re trying to conceive.

You’ve probably read recent news reports about fats and fertility. I know my patients have and many of them are asking me for help in deciding which fats to eat and what to cut out.

One recent study said that women who eat low-fat dairy foods may have a higher risk of infertility than those who treat themselves to full-fat ice cream or cheese. Another found that getting just 2% of total calories from trans fats instead of healthier mono-unsaturated fats was associated with a doubled risk of infertility.

So what are all these fats and what should we be doing about them? Continue reading…

Patient’s often ask me what the early signs of pregnancy are. It is useful to look out for them even though they can be a little confusing. Realistically, the only conclusive way of knowing that you are pregnant is a positive pregnancy test however the signs outlined below may give you a hint.

These are the symptoms I tell my patients to look out for.

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When I was expecting my daughter I vividly remember bursting into tears in the middle of a supermarket. Partly this mild hysteria was due to my pregnancy hormones but I also felt overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice and seemingly dire warnings given to pregnant women about food. It seemed as if the advice kept changing and I was so confused that I could not think of anything I wanted to eat.

I have been thinking about this recently because so many of my patients are newly pregnant and have been asking me for help with their diet. Continue reading…

In the USA it is estimated that 20% of couples are suffering from infertility at any given time. This number has increased steadily over the last 50 years, which has lead researchers to blame everything from increased maternal age to toxic overload. However 10% of all infertile couples will not be able to find out why they cannot conceive. The medical profession is left to shrug its collective shoulders and explain to these people that they are something of a mystery. They are offered assisted reproductive techniques but without a clear idea of what is being fixed, the outcome remains uncertain. Continue reading…