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IVF Preparation: Does Korean Medicine Really Improve Success Rates?

The desire for a baby is always earnest, but the process of preparing for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) can be even more difficult due to complex emotions such as anxiety and nervousness along with expectations. Many people seek a last hope with the earnestness of "I really want to succeed this time" as they are exhausted in body and mind from multiple procedure failures. For those who wonder 'Will moxibustion and acupuncture treatment really be of practical help in increasing the success rate of IVF?', Dalimchae Clinic provides detailed scientific research results and Korean medicine solutions.

💡 [Key Answer] 3 most common obstacles in IVF preparation: ① Unstable uterine environment / ② Decreased ovarian function / ③ Extreme stress and autonomic imbalance Dalimchae Clinic improves IVF success rates by creating a fundamental pregnancy preparation environment for the body through constitutional improvement.

IVF procedures are the culmination of cutting-edge medical technology, but ultimately they can flourish on the foundation of a 'healthy body'. Just as a good seed grows well only in fertile soil, no matter how good an embryo is transferred, if the uterine environment is unstable or ovarian function is decreased, there may be difficulties in implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. In particular, for those who have experienced repeated procedure failures, the cause may be complex problems of the entire body such as decreased ovarian function, lack of receptivity of the uterine lining, and hormone imbalance due to stress, rather than just the problem of the embryo. A healthy body state is the most basic premise for increasing the IVF success rate.

In Korean medicine, moxibustion and acupuncture treatments focus on balancing the body and increasing self-healing power. In particular, moxibustion and acupuncture are reported to have positive effects in many aspects during the preparation process for infertility and IVF procedures.

In a clinical study by the Villahermosa research team published in the journal 'Acupuncture in Medicine' in 2013, the results of combining acupuncture and moxibustion treatments for 84 female patients who had experienced at least two or more IVF failures drew attention. As a result of the study, the clinical pregnancy rate of the group that received acupuncture and moxibustion treatment was 35.7%, which was statistically significantly higher than that of the sham acupuncture group (10.7%) and the group that only underwent IVF (7.1%) (p=0.0169). Also, it was confirmed that the endometrial thickness in the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment group was 10.3 ± 1.6 mm, which was significantly thicker than the control group (8.5 ± 1.6 mm or 8.7 ± 1.6 mm) (p=0.0002). The researchers concluded that acupuncture and moxibustion contributed to optimizing the implantation environment by improving the receptivity of the uterine lining.

These results support the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatments that improve blood flow around the uterus and ovaries and alleviate stress by regulating the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Moxibustion treatment warms the uterus and promotes blood circulation to create a favorable environment for implantation, and acupuncture treatment helps healthy egg growth by strengthening ovarian function and regulating hormone secretion.

Also, a systematic review and meta-analysis by the Li research team published on November 15, 2024, analyzed data from a total of 5,991 patients who participated in 38 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the impact of the timing and dosage of acupuncture treatment on pregnancy outcomes during IVF. According to the study, acupuncture treatment during the controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) period in fresh embryo transfer cycles significantly increased the clinical pregnancy rate (relative risk 1.33, p = 0.01), and in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles, acupuncture treatment before embryo transfer significantly improved both the clinical pregnancy rate (relative risk 1.71, p < 0.00001) and the live birth rate (relative risk 2.40, p = 0.01). The researchers concluded that the timing and intensity of acupuncture treatment have a decisive impact on IVF success. These research results suggest that acupuncture and moxibustion treatment can be an important complementary therapy to increase the IVF success rate for many who seek an Incheon infertility clinic.

Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch does not stop at simple symptom relief but focuses on creating a healthy environment where one can get pregnant on one own through fundamental constitutional improvement. In the case of chronic and potentially recurring infertility, constitutional improvement that strengthens the overall function of the body is essential rather than just solving symptoms temporarily. Dalimchae Clinic's treatment philosophy is "not to turn off the symptoms, but to make a body that does not turn on again."

1. Individualized Herbal Medicine Prescription: Strengthening Uterine and Ovarian Function We closely diagnose an individual's constitution, health state, causes of infertility, and the stage of IVF procedure to prescribe customized herbal medicine. This herbal medicine improves blood circulation in the uterus and ovaries, regulates hormone balance, and strengthens ovarian function to create a stable implantation environment for healthy egg maturation and the uterine lining.

2. Acupuncture/Moxibustion/Pharmacopuncture Treatment: Intensive Management to Increase Implantation Rate We combine acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture treatments that improve blood circulation around the uterus and ovaries, balance the autonomic nervous system, and help the implantation environment. This is especially effective in raising the body's condition to the best before and after IVF procedures and alleviating stress. Such combined treatment is one of the greatest strengths that Dalimchae Clinic can offer to patients as an Incheon IVF clinic.

3. Lifestyle Coaching: Improving Pregnancy Maintenance Rate We provide customized coaching on lifestyle habits such as diet, exercise, and sleep to maximize treatment effects and maintain a healthy pregnancy. This is also a great help in managing stress caused by infertility.

At Dalimchae Clinic, we provide systematic Korean medicine treatment to increase the IVF success rate.

Step 1: Precise Diagnosis and Consultation We deeply consult on the patient's current health state, causes of infertility, and existing IVF history, and identify body imbalances through Korean medicine examinations such as pulse diagnosis and abdominal diagnosis. We also analyze information on ovarian function test results or the uterine environment together to establish an optimal treatment plan.

Step 2: Constitution-Customized Herbal Medicine Prescription According to the diagnosis results, we prescribe customized herbal medicine focused on strengthening uterine and ovarian functions, improving blood flow, regulating hormone balance, and alleviating stress. This becomes the foundation for maximizing the effects of moxibustion and acupuncture for IVF preparation.

Step 3: Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Pharmacopuncture Treatment We promote blood circulation around the uterus and ovaries and activate ovarian function with regular acupuncture treatment. Moxibustion treatment warms the uterus and improves the implantation environment. If necessary, we combine pharmacopuncture treatment to directly inject medicinal effects into specific acupuncture points to increase treatment effects. This process is a core step that shows the expertise of an Incheon infertility clinic.

Step 4: Psychological Stability and Lifestyle Management We provide counseling and lifestyle habit coaching to reduce the psychological burden occurring during the IVF process and to balance the autonomic nerves. This leads the entire pregnancy preparation process positively through the harmony of body and mind.

Check if any of the following items apply to you.

• Menstrual cycles have been irregular or there have been severe changes in volume over the past 6 months.
• Hands, feet, or lower abdomen always feel cold.
• Fatigue builds up easily and recovery is slow.
• Vulnerable to stress and has severe mood swings.
• Indigestion or gastrointestinal problems such as constipation and diarrhea are frequent.
• It is difficult to fall asleep at night or the quality of sleep is poor, such as waking up frequently.
• There have been 2 or more IVF procedure failure experiences.

Criteria for judgment:

• 2 or fewer applicable: Relatively stable state, but review strengthening fertility through constitutional improvement
• 3-4 applicable: Active body preparation needed. Recommend Dalimchae Clinic's precise diagnosis and infertility treatment consultation
• 5 or more applicable: Immediate body management start recommended. Combined Korean medicine treatment needed for ovarian function and uterine environment improvement

Q. How long does IVF transfer preparation take? A. It varies depending on the individual's body state and the cause of infertility, but generally a preparation period of 2-3 months is recommended. This is the minimum time needed for uterine environment improvement and ovarian function strengthening.

Q. Will Korean medicine treatment be helpful even after implantation failure? A. Yes, Korean medicine treatment that analyzes the causes of implantation failure from various angles to increase the receptivity of the uterine lining and improve blood circulation can help improve the implantation rate. Dalimchae Clinic in Incheon provides customized treatment for repeated implantation failure.

Q. Can I take herbal medicine even during IVF procedures? A. During procedures, you must carefully decide whether to take it by receiving advice from the responsible Korean medicine doctor and the procedure medical staff. At Dalimchae Clinic, we guide you through safe and effective herbal prescriptions by considering the procedure schedule and Western medicine intake situation.

Q. Can ovarian function decline also be improved with Korean medicine treatment? A. Korean medicine treatment can contribute to strengthening ovarian function by finding the causes of ovarian function decline and improving ovarian blood flow and regulating hormone balance. In particular, there are many cases where it has had a positive impact on the improvement of ovarian function in older patients.

IVF preparation is not a problem that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals from your body that have been sent for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring your symptoms exactly as they are. Dalimchae Clinic will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through Dalimchae Clinic's website AI consultation!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions actually received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Women and Pregnancy Treatment Standards Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Yang Yuchan (Pregnancy Preparation Column)