Fertility problems can be emotionally devastating, but understanding your treatment options can help you feel in control again. One of those treatment options might be acupuncture. Although it isn’t a substitute for medically needed fertility services, such as selecting an egg donor, acupuncture can work with medical treatments to help you successfully achieve pregnancy.

What Acupuncture Can and Can’t Do

Acupuncture can be effective in treating underlying medical problems that contribute to infertility. These include hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. It can’t address all medical problems, such as the presence of adhesions that block fallopian tubes—caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or endometriosis. However, it’s still possible for women affected by these problems to benefit from acupuncture. This is because acupuncture can:

• Support the development of a thick, healthy uterine lining
• Improve the function of the ovaries
• Reduce stress to balance hormones

When to Start Acupuncture

To see benefits from acupuncture, it’s necessary to receive multiple treatments. Some women decide to start acupuncture treatment about three to four months before they select an egg donor and start an IVF cycle. Acupuncture can safely continue through the IVF cycle, and afterward. However, once there is a possibility of pregnancy, the acupuncturist will avoid inserting any needles into the abdominal and pelvic regions.

Why Women Should Continue Acupuncture

It’s often thought that acupuncture is no longer needed once a pregnancy test turns positive. But unfortunately, women with a history of fertility problems are still at risk of miscarriage—especially during the first three months. Continuing to see an acupuncturist during the first trimester may help expecting moms avoid this tragedy.

What to Expect from Acupuncture

The acupuncturist will swab each area of insertion to cleanse it and prevent infection. The needles used for acupuncture are very small and thin. After an initial pinprick, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort. You’ll lie still and relax, usually for about 15 to 30 minutes, and then the acupuncturist will remove the needles.

Fertility Resources of Houston is pleased to offer the services of our accomplished acupuncturist, Dr. Sadhna Singh. Before she completed her master’s degree in acupuncture, Dr. Singh practiced medicine for more than 10 years as an Ob/Gyn and internal medicine specialist. If you’re experiencing fertility issues and live near Houston, give us a call today at (877) 983-0046.

Women usually prefer to have a biological connection to their children, but sometimes, this just isn’t possible. Egg donors are compassionate individuals who choose to put their bodies through physical stress in order to help others experience the joy of parenthood. After selecting the right egg donor, a future mother may go through IVF to have the fertilized eggs placed in her womb. If she is incapable of carrying a baby to term, a gestational carrier may do this for her.

Early Menopause

One of the reasons why women typically use egg donation is the early onset of menopause. These days, women are choosing to delay starting their families until later in life. Even if a woman has previously had children, she may decide she wants to grow her family again if she starts a relationship with a new partner. Unfortunately, it’s possible for some women to experience early menopause , preventing them from conceiving a child naturally. Anonymous egg donors make it possible for women to welcome a baby despite early menopause.

Poor Egg Quality or Quantity

Starting around the mid-30s, a woman’s fertility naturally begins to decline gradually. It’s still possible to get pregnant, of course, but some couples do have a harder time conceiving when one or both partners are older. In some cases, this is due to poor egg quality or quantity.

Genetic Diseases

Women with a family history of genetic diseases can receive fertility counseling to determine if there is a risk of passing along the disease to their children. Some examples of these genetic diseases include:

• Tay-Sachs disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Sickle cell disease
• Thalassemia
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Spinal muscular dystrophy

The use of donor eggs will prevent the child from inheriting genetic diseases.

Prior IVF Failure

It’s not unusual for some couples to undergo multiple cycles of in vitro fertilization without success. These future parents might consider using donor eggs. The donated eggs will be fertilized with the male partner’s sperm, or with donor sperm, and transferred to the future mom.

Women who need egg donors in Houston, Texas to become mothers can rest assured that all approved donors go through a rigorous screening process to ensure health. To get started, contact Fertility Resources of Houston at (877) 983-0046. We also connect future parents with gestational carriers.

Fertility Resources of Houston is pleased to introduce our talented registered dietician, April Murray. April is beloved by our clients for her genuine warmth and personalized approach. She chose to make it her life’s work to assist women experiencing fertility problems in Houston, including those who need the help of an egg donor or surrogate to become mothers.

April formerly lived in sunny California, where she earned her degree in clinical nutrition from the University of California Davis. She later completed her dietetics program at the Stony Brook Medical Center in New York. April gained experience working one-on-one with women, children, and infants during her time at WIC and at the labor and delivery unit at South Hampton Hospital. April is widely recognized for her professional expertise, with numerous interviews and articles appearing in major publications.

You can request an appointment with April Murray or another provider by calling (877) 983-0046. Fertility Resources of Houston is proud to play a role in welcoming the next generation into the world!