Your physician may recommend incorporating the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture into your personalized treatment plan. An effective complement to traditional fertility treatment, reproductive acupuncture addresses the needs of many couples seeking a more holistic approach. Our acupuncturists are experts in their field and will be fully versed in your specific situation and course of care. They will work alongside your SRM physician to help give you the best chance of success.
An Effective Treatment
Acupuncture is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine, a system of healthcare with a clinical history of over 2,500 years. The World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, and a growing body of clinical studies show that acupuncture can be effective in treating a variety of concerns, including:
- Gynecological and fertility disorders
- Anxiety and stress during treatment for fertility issues
- Discomfort during ART (assisted reproductive technology) procedures
- Side effects of fertility drugs
- Morning sickness
Reproductive Acupuncture at SRM
You may choose to include acupuncture in your treatment program for a number of reasons, and may begin at any time during your treatment. Many of our patients report that acupuncture helps ease stress and anxiety, and promotes a sense of well-being and balance. Some patients opt to begin before retrieval, IVF, and IUI to prepare for pregnancy; help with side effects; and to reduce discomfort from procedures. During pregnancy many of our patients use acupuncture for help with morning sickness. After childbirth, acupuncture and herbs are helpful in promoting lactation and restoring maternal energy and health.
About Our Acupuncturists
Johanna Flynn, EAMP, L.Ac., has been in practice specializing in fertility since 2003. Before joining the SRM team in 2004, she trained directly in the field of reproductive medicine with Dr. Li Fang Liang, assisting in the writing of Dr. Liang’s book, Acupuncture and IVF. Johanna was voted a Seattle Met Top Acupuncturist in 2013 and 2014.
Michaele Flynn, EAMP, L.Ac., has extensive experience in the reproductive health of women and men, from western and eastern perspectives. She is board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in Oriental Medicine. Michaele has been practicing Acupuncture with SRM since 2007.
More Information
Our providers are happy to discuss your specific situation and how acupuncture can be an effective part of your treatment plan. If you are an established patient of SRM and would like to schedule accucpunture, call 206-234-4301.
World Health Organization (2003). Acupuncture: Review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials.
Zhang, Y., Fu, Y., Han, F., Kuang, H., Hu,M., and Wu, X (2014). The Effect of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Subfertile Women with In Vitro Fertilization. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal. Volume 2014 (2014).