The CoLymph® Integrative Fertility Treatments

Here at Thomas Acupuncture & Wellness Clinic, we believe in harnessing the power of integrative medicine to provide, complement, & enhance fertility & family-building care. 

Our goal is to rethink the status quo for reproductive health in order to broaden your fertility options and provide you with multidimensional care. This involves combining holistic clinical techniques that have been practiced for thousands of years and are backed by science with modern fertility treatments and tests.

 

Our unique approach addresses the root causes of infertility by restoring the body from within in a systematic way that is tailored to your fertility/family-building plans and timeline. This is done using acupuncture, dietary therapy, East-Asian herbal medicine supplements, lifestyle changes, or a combination of the aforementioned modalities.

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We provide holistic treatment protocols that support a variety of fertility goals, ranging from natural conception and assisted reproductive technology (ART) methods (IUI, IVF, egg freezing, etc.) to onco-fertility and LGBTQ+ family-building goals. 

As a clinic focused on long-term wellness throughout this journey, we also provide specialized holistic postpartum care to accelerate recovery and healing.

Holistic & Multi-Dimensional Treatments to Support & Complement Fertility and Family-Building Care

Clinical studies have shown that using acupuncture in conjunction with fertility treatments can increase conception rates by 26%. Some studies have found that acupuncture used alongside IVF increased the odds of clinical pregnancy by up to 65%.[5]

The goal with providing supplemental acupuncture & holistic healthcare to assistive reproductive technology (ART) and natural conception efforts at our clinic is to restore the overall health of the patient(s), boost the reproductive health functions of each partner, reduce inflammation that may be contributing to infertility and other reproductive disorders, and improve the quality of the egg and sperm itself. Simultaneous treatment for both female and male fertility is recommended for optimal results—as practitioners of integrative medicine, previous data provided by patients and/or collaborating physicians from fertility tests and lab work may also be used to further guide and personalize treatment approaches and other lifestyle and dietary recommendations. 

Female & Male Factors + Fertility Support & Research

Pre-Conception Support

Female Factor & Fertility Support Benefits

  • Enhancing egg quality and ovarian reserve, helping to produce healthier eggs during IVF [1]

  • Increasing blood circulation to developing follicles [1]

  • Increasing blood flow to the uterus, helping the body create a healthy and thickening the uterine lining, which improves the chances of an ovum implanting on the uterine wall. [1]

  • Decrease IVF side effects, especially during ovarian stimulation and ovulation, caused by rapid changes in hormone levels, including hot flashes, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, headaches, etc. [3]

  • Lowering stress & anxiety associated with infertility: high levels of stress hormones such as cortisol have been shown to have a negative effect on fertility by influencing the HPO (hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian) axis [2]

  • Modulating the immune system and cytokine levels to reduce overall inflammation in the body [4]

References

1. Magerelli P et al Fertil Steril 2009 Dec:92(6): 1870-1879

2. Domar A Fertil Steril 2009 Mar:91(3): 723-7263

3. Anecdotal clinical evidence

4. Dehghani, A. S., Homayouni, K., Kanannejad, Z., & Kanannejad, Z. (2020). The effect of acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer on the in vitro fertilization outcomes: An RCT. International journal of reproductive biomedicine, 18(3), 209–214. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v18i3.6719

5. Manheimer, E., Zhang, G., Udoff, L., Haramati, A., Langenberg, P., Berman, B. M., & Bouter, L. M. (2008). Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 336(7643), 545–549. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39471.430451.BE

Male Factor & Fertility Support

Studies show that male factors contribute to 50% of infertility cases and a combination of female & male factors contribute to infertility 10% of the time.

Male infertility can be due to a number of factors, including abnormal spermatogenesis, reproductive tract anomalies or obstruction, inadequate sexual and ejaculatory functions, and impaired sperm motility [7,8,10]. In 30-40% of men, no cause for infertility is found [7].Factors that alter spermatogenesis include endocrine disturbances such as low testosterone levels, exposure to medicines or environmental toxins, varicocele, increased scrotal heat, systemic diseases, smoking and alcohol, and testicular torsion and trauma [5,6,9]. 

Our approach using acupuncture and holistic treatment that may also include herbal medicines and dietary changes, is aimed at improving sperm quality such as sperm count, sperm mobility and morphology of sperm, reducing inflammation and improving the general male health prior to fertility treatments, sperm donations, and/or natural conception efforts.

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Acupuncture can also be used on the day of sperm donation to ease any anxiety and improve blood circulation.  



References:

[1]. Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultrastructure after acupuncture treatment for idiopathic male infertility. Pei J et al Fertil Steril. 2005 Jul;84(1):141-7, Fertility and Sterility

[2]. Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm quality. Siterman S et al Arch Androl. 1997 Sep-Oct;39(2):155-61, Archives of Andrology

[3]. Does acupuncture treatment affect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study. Siterman S et al Andrologia. 2000 Jan;32(1):31-9., Andrologia

[4]. Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproductive technology. Zhang M et al J Huazhong Univ Sci Tech Med Sci. 2002;22(3):228-30

[5]. Arap MA et al. Late hormonal levels, semen parameters and presence of antisperm antibodies in patients treated for testicular torsion. J Androl 2007; 28: 528-32.

[6]. Cherry N et al. Occupational exposure to solvents and male infertility. Occup Environ Med 2001; 58: 635-40.

[7]. Dohle GR et al. Guidelines on male infertility. European Association of Urology; 2010.

[8]. Isidori A et al. Treatment of male infertility. Contraception 2005; 72: 314-8.

[9]. Kunzle R et al. Semen quality of male smokers and nonsmokers in infertile couples. Fertil Steril 2003; 79: 287-91.

[10]. Patki P et al. Effects of spinal cord injury on semen parameters. J Spinal Cord Med 2008; 31: 27-32.

[11]. Shefi S, Turek PJ. Definition and current evaluation of subfertile men. Int Braz J Urol 2006; 32:385-97.

Process & Mechanisms

We understand that navigating the healthcare system to address fertility can be overwhelming and daunting. Thus, our clinic is dedicated to providing consistently compassionate, holistic care to empower our patients and make acupuncture & Eastern herbal medicine for fertility simple and approachable. 

The evidence-based treatment principles we use and stand by form the foundation of our protocols, which have been specially designed to lower systemic inflammation levels, improve blood & nutrient supply to the reproductive systems, detoxify lymphatic vessels, rebalance hormones, and increase energy levels.

The majority of unexplained and identified male/female fertility factors arise from internal imbalances in the organ systems, so it is essential to address the body as a whole for successful conception and full-term delivery.

​We believe in addressing fertility care at the root cause and from all directions to naturally promote reproductive health for the long-term. Thus, we offer multiple treatment modalities to increase efficacy.

All treatment modalities may be used alone or in combination in a personalized manner to fit your fertility health goals/timeline and to work alongside your medical fertility team.

Our comprehensive approach to improving both female & male fertility treats the whole person with multidimensional reproductive care

Process & Mechanisms

1. Getting to Know You & Your Goals:

A detailed intake & consultation of the patient/couple’s medical & fertility history and goals, current or previous ART cycles, lifestyle, and average dietary intake, etc.

2. Personalized Acupuncture Treatments:

Individualized selection and use of acupuncture points depending on the patient’s condition, timing & staging of ART procedures, and/or root causes of infertility.

3. Clinical Herbalism & Natural Supplements

(Ideally in combination with acupuncture to improve outcomes, if indicated for the patient, depending on timing, medical history, and current ART usages)

100% natural, plant-based herbal supplements, professionally formulated by our licensed acupuncturists using clinical herbalism and the latest research to safely & effectively boost reproductive and overall health from within. May not be indicated for every patient.

4. Personalized Dietary Therapy

Personalized dietary change recommendations to promote restoration of internal physical and hormonal imbalances and reduce interfering inflammation.

5. Lifestyle Adjustments

Daily routine changes recommended to promote a low-inflammation and low-stress state of the mind & body in order to produce higher-quality eggs, sperm, and womb.

Expectations & Recommended Timelines

Personalized CoLymph® fertility treatment plans for:

  • Assisted reproductive technology (ART) support
  • Natural conception support
  • Fertility preservation support, and more

Personalized Treatment Plans, Tailored to Your Timeline & Goals

Our clinic has developed unique, safe, and clear treatment protocols for various fertility & family-building options. They have been carefully designed to complement treatment timelines typically recommended by fertility centers and physicians.  Additionally, they are what we recommend as best courses of action for optimal holistic fertility support, based on our 25+ years of clinical expertise and research. 

​Because every patient's fertility journey, goals, and timelines are different, the recommended treatment duration and frequency may vary. However, we have specific protocols in place that can be tailored to every patient's needs as a part of our commitment to providing individualized & holistic care.

​Thus, we highly recommend speaking with one of our clinical associates at our clinic to receive a personalized treatment course recommendation for your specific situation & timeline as well as scheduling assistance to complement any other fertility-supporting procedures planned by your medical team.


Please note that treatment frequency and duration along with results may vary depending on the patient.

If the patient has additional underlying complications or history (i.e. long-term birth control usage, hormonal imbalances, endometriosis, PCOS, etc.), this may require more time to correct the deeply-rooted chronic conditions affecting the patient’s overall health and fertility.

 Every patient also responds differently to our treatments depending on their existing health history, constitution, diet, ongoing IUI or IVF cycles, age, and timing.

Diverse Integrative Services Provided

Our CoLymph® multidimensional treatment methods can be used to help support:

  • Natural conception
  • Intrauterine Insemination(IUI)
  • In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
  • Fertility preservation (sperm/egg/embryo freezing)
  • Post-IVF cycle hormonal reset & detox before new cycle initiation
  • Fertility treatment + medication side-effect relief
  • LGBTQ+ family building
  • Onco-fertility preservation assistance
  • Post-partum recovery

Secondary Infertility Treatment

Our clinic also offers the same kinds of therapy and treatment for cases of secondary infertility for both men and women (difficulty getting pregnant after carrying a baby to full-term or after having been pregnant before). Secondary infertility shares many of the same root causes of primary infertility, but the treatment and recommendations may be modified and customized based on the state of the patient’s body after their first pregnancy and any test results that may be available now.

Pregnancy & Postpartum Care

For pregnancy and beyond

During Pregnancy

Your treatment switches to using dietary therapy and lifestyle recommendations to encourage a smooth pregnancy for both the mother and child. We offer one-on-one consultations, both in-person and online via telemedicine appointments, for continued monitoring and holistic care throughout the pregnancy.

After Childbirth

the body will experience a number of changes and trauma, and we believe postpartum care is equally crucial to help return the body to a state of balance and promote healing. During this period, your treatment will focus on restorative acupuncture and dietary therapy to:

  • Help boost your body’s healing abilities internally and with the healing of cesarean-section scars
  • Restore & improve blood supply and circulation
  • Improve energy levels and pain
  • Rebalance hormones and emotional fluctuations—i.e. postpartum depression, anxiety, stress
  • Support lactation & help build maternal milk
  • Address persistent bleeding
  • Relieve abdominal pain
  • Resolve night sweats

Postpartum Holistic Dietary therapy

The first 40 days after childbirth is crucial for the mothers and their healing process, and utilizing the right holistic nutrition approaches can significantly help during this phase. Dietary therapy consultations are offered via in-person or online consultations anytime after delivery.

Postpartum Acupuncture

We recommend initiating postpartum acupuncture therapy about 3-4 weeks after delivery on a weekly basis for effective postpartum recovery and lactation support.Treatment duration & frequency may vary based on each individual patient's condition and medical history. Thus, we highly recommend contacting our care team for personalized recommendations.