Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Integrative Bodywork

Women's Health, fertility, pregnancy,
body alignment and emotional
transformation.

Fertility

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Fertility

If you are curious about acupuncture and Chinese medicine for your fertility, but don’t know when to start or how, we are here for you. We have experience working with both couples and individuals at all stages of their fertility journeys. Whether you are just starting to think about conception, having been trying to conceive for years, or are working towards IVF or IUI, we have tools to help you.

You can get started right away by contacting us to set up a new patient appointment or a free 15-minute phone consultation.

Flourish Integrative Health takes a gentle, supportive approach to assisting patients struggling with fertility. Our integrative approach offers support not only for your physical wellbeing, but also for the emotional toll that a fertility journey can take, both on the individual as well as on the couple. You can expect to come out the other side of treatment with Flourish feeling healthier, more balanced, less anxious or stressed, and …. pregnant!

Why should I choose Chinese medicine?

Chinese medicine has treated infertility for well over 2000 years. The wisdom accumulated over those millennia has led to a holistic approach to fertility: working towards balancing the whole individual, inclusive of diet, exercise, mood, digestion, sleep, and other factors. This approach enables us to identify and address underlying issues that are holding you back from being able to conceive.

Our patients see success because we give them the tools they need to address their own inflammation, hormonal or immune imbalance, or stress – all issues that can interfere with conception – and we support them throughout the process of making those changes to their wellbeing. We will make you feel better, every time you come to see us. And that usually translates into a body that is ready to conceive.

What to expect when you receive virtual care…

Your first appointment, conducted via a video call with one of our Chinese medicine specialists, will consist primarily of an in-depth health history, including your fertility journey thus far, any relevant diagnostic test results, your diet and exercise routine, general physical function (digestion, periods, sleep, etc.), and your emotional wellbeing.

Your provider will then create a fertility wellness plan tailored to your case. This plan will include nutritional advice, lifestyle recommendations, an acupressure protocol, and herbal / supplement prescriptions – all based on any identified health imbalances that are at the root of your fertility issues. Your provider will then create a plan for follow-up phone call appointments (or video, if you prefer) on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis, depending on your case. The goal of this follow-up work is to check in on how you’re feeling physically and emotionally, offer support on implementing the recommended changes, track the progress being made, and adjust your wellness plan accordingly.

Each participant in your fertility journey (you and your partner, if relevant) will have a separate first appointment and course of treatment, so that we can focus on the whole picture. We see significantly improved outcomes for couples in which both individuals receive treatment – even when only one of the partners is indicated by Western medicine as the “culprit” of the fertility issues. If you would prefer that only one of you receive treatment, we can, of course, make that work!

What to expect when you come into the clinic…

Your first appointment will be with one of our Chinese medicine specialists, who will take an in-depth health history – including your fertility journey thus far, any relevant diagnostic test results, your diet and exercise routine, general physical function (periods, digestion, sleep, etc.), and your emotional wellbeing.

We then provide a 20- to 30-minute acupuncture treatment to address the Chinese medicine diagnosis that is based on our learnings from the health history, as well as a variety of physical observations. This treatment is generally painless (honestly!) and greatly relaxing.

At the end of the appointment, the practitioner will provide you with a fertility wellness plan tailored to your case. This plan will include nutritional advice, lifestyle recommendations, and herbal / supplement prescriptions – all based on any identified health imbalances.

Each participant in your fertility journey (you and your partner, if relevant) will have a separate first appointment (and course of treatment), so that we can focus on the whole picture. We see significantly improved outcomes for couples in which both individuals receive treatment – even when only one of the partners is indicated by Western medicine as the “culprit” of the fertility issues. If you would prefer that only one of you receives treatment, we can, of course, make that work!

…for women:

Our usual course of treatment for women includes weekly acupuncture appointments throughout your fertility journey, to guide your case, support you through the suggested nutritional and lifestyle changes, and help regulate your cycle at each weekly stage. If weekly appointments are too great a commitment, we can reduce to focusing more effort towards the pre-ovulatory phase of your cycle – although this adjustment is only appropriate for certain cases.

…for men:

Our usual course of treatment for men includes weekly acupuncture appointments for at least three months – the time it takes for sperm to become fully formed. We use that time to guide your case, support you through the suggested nutritional and lifestyle changes, and help address circulation, inflammation and stress. If weekly appointments are too great a commitment, we can reduce to focusing more effort towards the pre-ovulatory phase of your partner’s cycle. And have no fear, men, the acupuncture needles are NEVER inserted into your genital region!

Specific issues for which Chinese medicine can be helpful…

For women:

For men: