Preparation for IVF

Kenneth Snell uses specialised Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in his successful fertility programmes. He has successfully treated patients who have either been very unsuccessful with IVF, or have been rejected from IVF programmes as being deemed untreatable. These patients have conceived successfully through the use of his fertility Chinese medicines. His fertility programme includes preparation treatment before an embryo transfer, IVF support during an embryo transfer, and IVF support after an embryo transfer to prevent the occurance of miscarriage. Our IVF support programme is given while going through a stimulated or non stimulated IVF or IUI cycle. There are very few female patients who are ready to undergo IVF treatment and this contributes to high rate of failed IVF procedures and miscarriages. To ensure success with IVF, Kenneth Snell prepares patients for a period of at least 3 to 4 months before IVF treatment. It is very likely that some of the couples conceive naturally during this preparation period and those who do not conceive naturally during the preparation period have a very good chance of conceiving during the first IVF procedure due to his IVF support programme. (Our clinic's pregnancy rate for the period June 2007 to May 2008 was 87.5%).

The extended period of preparation is to improve and thicken the uterine lining, improve the quality of the eggs, improve the number of follicles, regulate & increase hormones, reduce FSH and there by reduces the chances of IVF failures or miscarriages. This extended preparation greatly impacts the size of follicles, quality of eggs, quality of the embryo, and the outcome of the IVF proceedure.

Kenneth Snell not only prepares female patients, he also prepares male patients undergoing ICSI treatment who have sperm DNA fragmentation, sperm morphology, sperm motility, and sperm volume issues. This is done by prescribing fertility Chinese medicine well in advance of the ICSI treatment. His treatment improves the quality of the sperm, the sperm count, sperm motility, reduces fragmentation, reduces sperm defects. This increases the overall quality of sperm that are going to be used for the fertilization process.

There are some women who are prone to miscarriages and it may be a little difficult to treat them in normal circumstances, but Kenneth Snell increases the success rate of IVF even among those who have miscarriage problems through the use of fertility Chinese medicine and fertility acupuncture.

One of the drawbacks of the Western infertility treatment is that it does not take into consideration the individual constitution of the patients. It usually treats all the patients equally and offers generic treatment to all women. Therefore it may be an effective method for some, though the success rate is greatly diminished as it does not work for all. The medication given to all patients who undergo IVF will be a standard dose of hormones and since each individual is different they respond or react to the medicines differently and at a different pace. Obviously we cannot expect the same results in all the patients who are from different age groups, have a different internal body type, and medical fitness and history. Therefore, IVF does not work so well with all patients.

In some cases women may need progesterone doses that are 4 times greater than the normal dose to initiate a uterodome response on the uterine wall. Uterodomes need to appear on the uterine wall before uterus can accept the embryo. Often enough time is not given for the body to respond to the drugs. Normally just a single cycle is allowed as part of the preparation and within this period it is assumed that the follicles and uterine lining will increase, and become responsive & healthy. Some women may need more than a single cycle of fertility drugs to respond satisfactorily especially when they have an under active reproductive system. The under active reproductive system should be given enough time to become active and thereby successful. This situation can be compared to a thinly built man who takes steroid shots in hope to build huge muscles all in one month's time. Do you think he can build a great physique in only one month? Such an approach has to be really discouraged as it is not natural, and it is mechanical in its approach.

If the embryos are not implanted successfully or if there is a miscarriage then there is something wrong with the individual's reproductive system that requires different medical attention. For a couple to try IVF three or more times is not advisable as consecutive future attempts of IVF, IUI , ICSI and ART will only weaken the reproductive system in the majority of cases.

Often IVF doctors will persuade you to go for the next IVF procedure soon after the failure of the recent IVF attempt. This is done without analyzing the reason for the failed IVF attempt.

You have greater chances of success with your IVF, if you hold your next IVF off for a few months at least and undergo corrective treatment to help the uterine lining to become more prepared to receive the embryo. Your reproductive system will have better chances of responding to the embryo after the IVF preparation treatment. The duration of preparation may be just for a couple of months or more depending on the individual's conditions. If they have had previous history of IVF failure then the IVF preparation time will be longer.

IVF specialists normally warn people who want to combine IVF drugs and Chinese medicine that it is dangerous. Though, a high majority of my previous patients who have successfully conceived via IVF, IUI, ICSI and ART have gone through the treatment having combined both medications. This is something that is commonly followed in hospitals in China though frowned upon by Western IVF specialists.

Chinese Herbal medicines have to be taken both before and after the transfer of the embryos for a successful IVF. It is quite rare that success can be guaranteed with only acupuncture treatment combined with IVF.

The Acupuncture IVF & Fertility clinic, Sydney have formulated special Chinese fertility formulas to help patients during the transfer of the embryo. Acupuncture has to be combined with Chinese medicine to enhance the effects of the acupuncture treatment. Another factor that helps is that the Chinese medicine dilates the cervical opening slightly making the transfer of the embryo to the uterine lining easier. Furthermore, the Chinese medicines have a relaxing effect on the patient and the uterus. The patient is less likely to experience pain & cramping, or uterine contractions creating an ideal environment for the implantation of the embryo. The blood flow to the uterus increases, leading to the thickening of the uterine lining.

IVF Support & After the Transfer of the Embryos

This is one of the most crucial stages of the IVF procedure. During this phase, the blood circulation to the uterus should be stable and sufficient to ensure successful implantation and further growth of the embryo. Uterine contractions can lead to bleeding and there after miscarriage so it is important that the uterine contractions should be prevented. Our Chinese medicines are specially formulated to handle this stage. 75%* of our patients who used our Chinese medicines after the transfer were successful with their IVF treatment. (This figure of 75% is generated from statistics calculated for the June 2007 - May 2008 period of patients treated for infertility at the Acupuncture IVF & Fertility Clinic)

After a positive pregnancy

Continued herbal treatment is essential to ensure that there is no miscarriage after a confirmed or positive pregnancy.
Our specially formulated herbal medicines
1 *Prevent miscarriage.
2 *Help in the development of a healthy fetus
3 *Prevent post natal depression

Our herbal medication during this last phase can be continued for up to 20 weeks so as to nourish the growing fetus and produce a healthier baby.