When is my Fertility Window?

Traditionally, ovulation has been thought to be a static event with a normal pattern that is very similar for every woman.

Medial doctors have told their patients that ovulation occurs on day 14 of a 28 day cycle. Or, if the cycle is not 28 days long, then it should be 14 days before the first day of the menstrual period. For example, if the cycle is 21 days, ovulation should be on day 7.

However, more modern research is showing that even with women with regular cycles, the day of ovulation can vary. In a woman with a regular 28 day cycle, ovulation can occur anywhere from day 9 to day 18. This is vital information for women that are trying ton conceive. If they are timing intercourse for a day 14 ovulation, but they are actually ovulating on day 9, the chances of getting pregnant are very slim.

Eggs, once they are released, only survive for about 24 hours, and need to be fertilized while in the fallopian tubes. This means intercourse needs to happen before ovulation occurs, so that the sperm has enough time to travel to the fallopian tube. (for more in depth explanation of anatomy, see our post from 4/24/09)

I use acupuncture and herbal medicine to help my patients to conceive. If you are curious, please visit www.AcuSpaWellness.com or call us at (650) 588-0888 to set up your first acupuncture appointment. I've helped many men and women to increase their fertility and give birth to healthy babies.

Acupuncture Effective for Increasing In-Vitro Pregnancy Rates

Many couples are finding that they have difficulty conceiving, and turn to assisted reproductive services (ART) like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra-uterine injection (IUI). These services are being sought after more often as it seems that our fast paced and high stress lifestyle decreases fertility rates.

IUI and IVF are uncomfortable and typically costly procedures, so it makes sense that patients want to make sure that they are giving themselves the best chance for success. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are being pursued more and more as treatment for infertility, both as a stand alone treatment, and in conjunction with ART.

This is prompting more studies to examine the efficacy of these treatments, and the news is good. A study by doctors Zhang and Udoff of the University of Maryland showed that using acupuncture does increase the likelyhood of a preganancy when used in conjunction with ART procedures. The study on acupuncture and embryo transfers can be found here: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmj.39471.430451.BEv1

If you or someone you know is concerned about fertility, time is of the essence. Call Dorothy Pang, L.Ac. to schedule an appointment at (650) 588-0888 and see our website at www.AcuSpaWellness.com