Preparing the Uterine Lining

You know the saying, “It all comes down to preparation”? Well, that advice can certainly be valuable when it comes to in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF), especially when readying the uterus for the transfer phase.

A lining of between 8 and 13 mm is considered ideal for IVF treatment. Anything less reduces the chances of a transferred embryo from implanting. Low estrogen levels and poor uterine blood supply are sometimes responsible for inadequate growth. Normally, the uterine lining grows 1 to 2 mm every other day in response to estrogen hormones. In general, the uterine lining will increase when undergoing IVF treatment with stimulation.

Depending on the form of IVF treatment you have chosen methods of preparing the uterine lining will vary.

Conventional

• Estrogen and progesterone hormones will be taken for about two weeks to thicken the lining. The estrogen can be administered orally or as an injection or via a transdermal patch. Progesterone will be administered on day of embryo transfer, be it a frozen or fresh transfer.

Natural

• In a natural cycle the embryo transfer takes place in the luteal phase at a time where the lining is appropriately undeveloped in relation to the status of the present Luteinizing Hormone. On occasion, the process is supplemented with oral estrogen and low dose natural oral progesterone.

Some fertility doctors suggest women undergoing IVF supplement their treatment with a fertility diet, acupuncture and yoga to possibly help prepare their uterus and uterine lining for the embryo transfer.

Acupuncture to Prepare Uterine Lining

You can bite into a piece of broccoli or bend yourself into the bridge pose in an effort to prepare your uterine lining for embryo transfer. You can even have tiny needles popped into acupoints across your body to release your Qi and get your uterine lining growing.

More and more women are taking detours down the all-natural, holistic paths while on their IVF treatment journey and swearing by the adventure. Some are actually taking the detours under the direction of their fertility doctor.

It is believed that acupuncture can help increase blood flow to the uterus in turn promoting the growth of the uterine lining. When it comes to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, preparation of the uterine lining is crucial. If it is not thick enough the embryo will not implant itself after transfer.

A study released by the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore in 2008 showed that  acupuncture significantly improved pregnancy rates resulting from the embryo transfer process.

Fertility doctors claim that combining acupuncture and IVF helps:

• Decrease stress
• Regulate hormonal imbalances
• Strengthen the immune system
• Increase blood flow to the uterus
• Increase the thickness of uterine lining
• Lessen the negative side effects of fertility drugs

Women experiencing the best results from acupuncture begin treatment three to four months before fertility procedures. Just before and after fertility procedures, women receive one to two more acupuncture treatments. Be sure to visit a well-trained practitioner experienced in infertility care if considering acupuncture, as certain acupoints are considered off-limits for they may create too much stimulation and lead to miscarriage.