Acupuncture Treatments For All Fertility Issues

Fertility acupuncture & Chinese medicine can be used as a stand-alone treatment or as an adjunct to western medicine.
Some fertility conditions benefit from using both methods at the same time.

Natural Fertility

Unexplained Diagnosis
High FSH / Low AMH
Low Progesterone
Recurrent Miscarriage

IVF - ICSI - IUI

Fresh Cycle
Frozen Transfer
Donor Egg
Donor Sperm

PCOS

Long Menstrual Cycles
No Period / Ovulation
Insuline Resistance
Excess Androgens

Male Fertility

Low Count
Poor Motility
Poor Morphology
DNA Fragmentation

Acupuncture for Natural Fertility

Acupuncture has been treating infertility for over 2000 years and has recently been gaining acceptance in the west as a valuable method of restoring reproductive health.
Because of its ability to relieve stress, regulate hormone levels and influence the menstrual cycle & ovulation, fertility acupuncture is the treatment of choice for “unexplained infertility”.
Fertility acupuncture is not a quick fix and treatment should last a minimum of 3-4 months, changes are gradual and benefits are great.

Planning for a Healthy Baby: routine pre-conception care
Help boost your fertility and improve pregnancy with routine pre-conception care. This consists of a course of 12 sessions designed to give you the best possible pregnancy and birth and the healthiest and brightest baby.

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I first visited Sabine in June 2017. Having just been diagnosed with an AMH of 0.6. I was advised to begin IVF immediately if I wanted any chance of having my own children. I had also been told that I might need to consider egg donation as I basically had hardly any of my own left. I was distraught. But once I got my head and heard around the life changing news I decided if I had to do IVF, I would give everything I had to it.
I did lots and lots of research and discovered that acupuncture improved the chances of success in IVF so I arranged an appointment with Sabine. As soon as I met her and went through my history, she told me she was confident that after three cycles of weekly acupuncture I would easily conceive on my own. After being told the complete opposite by my doctors, I was somewhat sceptical and still planned to start IVF in September but I started weekly acupuncture to prepare my body and give myself the best possible chance.
In August, I found out I was pregnant. No IVF, just acupuncture.
I am now 13 weeks pregnant and both myself and my little miracle are doing really well. We've already had two scans and it really is the most amazing feeling in the world seeing your little baby for the first time. Especially when you thought you never would. I have no doubt that our little miracle is 100% due to Sabine and I will never be able to thank her enough for what she has given us.

Sarah, 36 Dublin

In August 2008 we were told the news that we would never have a baby naturally and that our only hope was to go through ICSI. In November 2008 I went through 1 cycle of ICSI, but miscarried at 12 weeks. In June 2009 I got pregnant naturally, but again miscarried at about 7 weeks.  We were devastated and decided to leave things for a while to allow us to recover both mentally and physically. It was my husband who kept suggesting acupuncture and after enough nagging I attended my first session with Sabine.  From the start I felt that  she was interested, genuine and positive and for the first time in a long time I felt HOPEFUL. Well after about 9 sessions I found out I was pregnant and I am now 28 weeks. Both my husband and I truly believe that we owe our dream of becoming parents to Sabine and acupuncture!!! As the weeks have gone by Sabine has helped me through morning sickness, tiredness, back pain etc.  She has also given me advice and help during the pregnancy and has listened to all my fears.  I still attend her and will be with her right up to the birth.  In the past having read testimonials both my hubby and I have often been sceptical about their genuineness, but from our hearts we have written this.  We are living proof that acupuncture does work and we are living the dream. We would recommend Sabine and if you try acupuncture once you will understand why we have so much faith it and in the sincerity you will get from Sabine.  Dont give up hope!

Catherine, 38 Drogheda

My husband and I had been trying for a baby for 8 months when I began acupuncture with Sabine. Also this is within the range of what's classified as a "normal" amount of time to conceive, we were finding it extremely stressful as all of our friends were conceiving much quicker than this. I decided to give acupuncture a try, as we needed to wait a year before my GP would send us for fertility testing. To be honest, I went to "feel" that I was doing something to help myself as the waiting was driving me mad, but I am so glad that I did decide to go. Sabine was relaxed and welcoming, I am not a fan of needles but she put me at ease straight away. As the weekly sessions went on, I became more and more relaxed and would sleep through most of them. Two months later, I found out I was pregnant. I am convinced it was the acupuncture that helped kick start my body, and even my very sceptical husband agrees with me. I would definitely recommend Sabine for anyone going through fertility issues, whether diagnosed or not. It's a very isolating thing to go through, and it helped to have someone who knew what she was talking about. I only wish I'd gone sooner.

Tara, 31 Dublin

My husband and I had been trying to conceive for 18 months. We initially tried medical tests which confirmed there were no obvious issues. Ob/gyn had prescribed Clomid but after two months I felt very depressed and decided to cease any further medication for our 'unexplained infertility'.
In January, I started weekly acupuncture sessions with Sabine with a plan to complete three full cycles. I felt very relaxed during the sessions but wasn't exactly sure if it was helping. However, within three months we were delighted to find out we had our first 'positive' result!
We are now just 7 weeks pregnant, and know there's a long way to go, but we can't thank Sabine enough for helping us achieve a natural conception and giving us the confidence to stay positive when all else was failing. We are very happy to recommend Sabine & acupuncture to any couple in a similar situation.

Jane, 33 Dublin

Acupuncture for PCOS

New content about how acupuncture treats PCOS coming soon...

I began my journey with acupuncture in January 2013. I had previously come off OCP in March 2012 and my periods had become very few and far between.
I had two periods 6 weeks apart in July and August, and some mild spotting in September.

In January 2013, I decided to investigate and I heard really positive results about acupuncture. At the time I started acupuncture I had attended a gynaecologist and was diagnosed with mild PCOS. This explained a lot. Sabine was amazing and really educated me on all things fertility.

The treatments were one hour sessions and her approach was to treat my fertility holistically… I felt amazing after each session.
Two months into the treatment, my periods returned and by May 2013 I had my first 28 days cycle… This was my first EVER!
In June I missed my period and found out I was pregnant… We were so happy!

I know everyone’s journey is different but for me I was very reluctant to go down the medial route and acupucnture was the perfect fit.
I do believe without it I would not have my gorgeous baby boy.

 

Claire Dublin

Acupuncture for IVF

Starting an IVF journey is a decision that no couple takes lightly. While it is an amazing opportunity to realise dreams of becoming parents, it is also a stressful and challenging journey filled with uncertainty.
It can take from upwards of three IVF cycles to get pregnant, and sometimes more to carry a pregnancy to term.

However, you can improve your chances of success in your first cycle by preparing and getting your body ready before you get started. Acupuncture has been scientifically proven to improve blood flow to the uterus, reduce stress, and to improve IVF outcomes.

It’s important to optimise your chances of IVF success by bringing your best, healthiest and most fertile self to treatment.
Weekly acupuncture treatments in the lead up to your IVF cycle will support you physically and emotionally.

We will build up your energy reserves and create optimum environment in your body for the embryo to thrive. We will come up will a holistic plan which will include diet, lifestyle and stress management.
IVF acupuncture treaments are extremely relaxing and will help you feel pro-active and feel in control of your IVF experience

When to come for treatment:
3-4 months prior

I recommend starting acupuncture 3-4 months ahead of your IVF cycle.
This is because this is how long it takes to fully mature a follicle, and how long it takes for acupuncture to have an impact the health of the eggs that will be used in your IVF cycle.
Heathy eggs and healthy sperm are crucial for healthy embryos.

3-4 months gives time for the body to adjust to the new diet and lifestyle changes, and to repair and rebalance.
During this time, weekly acupuncture treatments will improve your wellbeing, increase nourishment to your eggs and your uterine lining, make you feel proactive in your treatment and help keep you relaxed.

This is often when we see women who had been TTCing for years conceive naturally….

At the start of your IVF Cycle

While a 3-4 months preparation is ideal, in reality many women get in touch when they are about to start their treatment and there is still a lot acupuncture can do at this time to improve your chances of success.
At this stage, acupuncture treatments will focus on assisting your medicated cycle.

Minimise side effects from medication
Regulate hormone levels
Increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
Optimise ovarian function
Optimise uterine lining and receptivity
Facilitate the embryo transfer
Optimise chances of implantation
Encourage implantation
Minimise stress

Starting later in life at age 38 I was told after having tried to conceive for a year that I would have to go down the IVF route in order to stand just a 20% chance of getting pregnant. I had not been pregnant before. A friend was going through a similar thing and she recommended acupuncture to me as  it could be beneficial in these circumstances. I had attended another acupuncturist for a few weeks but changed treatment to Sabine and was very happy that I did so. I had weekly one hour accupuncture sessions for a number of months leading up to the IVF. I enjoyed the sessions and trusted in Sabine's care and information on fertility. I felt very relaxed after each session and this lasted for a number of days. I felt a huge sense of  accomplishment that I was actively helping my body be prepared for the treatment. This also gave me a positive head set. I believe the treatment and thus my positive outlook helped me cope with the prospect of the IVF. I am delighted to say we were successful first time and now have a beautiful baby boy. We are now on the cusp of considering trying again and I will definately be looking to see Sabine again if we do proceed.

Ciara Dublin

I had been trying for a baby for over a year and after an initial consultation with a fertility clinic I was advised to begin IVF asap due to my low AMH (I am 34 and my AMH was 6.7). A friend recommended speaking with Sabine and I am absolutely delighted that I took her advice. From the moment we met, Sabine put me at ease and explained how acupuncture could help me on my journey. I had weekly acupuncture sessions and really looked forward to them. It was an hour to myself where I could relax, concentrate on a positive outcome and have a lovely snooze! Sabine is so knowledgeable and advised me on any questions or concerns I had about fertility. As a bonus the acupuncture really helped with bad period pains and migraine that I had been suffering for years. I just wish I had gone to her sooner. I began ICSI treatment in early August 2014 and am now 6 weeks pregnant. I honestly believe the acupuncture helped make this happen as it really made me relax and remain positive throughout. I would highly recommend Sabine and would like to thank her for all help and support during these difficult few months.

Jane, 34 Dublin

In August 2008 I started my first IVF cycle. I started on the pill and then on the buserelin nasal spray, I put on quite a bit of weight as I wasn’t prepared for the effect of the medicines. I did acupuncture from the middle of September to the egg retrieval on the 8th of October 2008. My hormone levels had been fine but I had no success, none of the fertilised eggs made it to blastocyst stage.
My doctor was reluctant for me to try again because of my age, I had turned 43 in August, but I needed to try one more cycle. At the end of December I started the pill again but this time I had been doing acupuncture since October and had lost the weight and was following a very healthy lifestyle. I also started reflexology just before Christmas.
On the 1st of February 2009 I started the Buserelin nasal spray, the cycle went well and I felt very well and more grounded and relaxed. I had egg retrieval on the 26th of February 2009 and transfer of the one blastocyst on the 3d of March 2009. I had acupuncture and reflexology every week throughout the cycle and followed the protocol Sabine suggested at egg retrieval and transfer.
I am now 10 weeks pregnant and all going well. I come from a holistic background and found Sabine lovely to visit, she was informative and helpful at all times, I like to be kept in the loop so this is important to me. I thank her and wish her every success in the future.

Deirdre, 43 Dublin

Acupuncture for Pregnancy Loss - Miscarriage

New content about how acupuncture can help fertility after one or several miscarriages coming soon...

When I started attending Sabine Le Boulicaut for acupuncture, I had been trying to conceive for 2 years (Unexplained Infertility) and had 2 previous miscarriages.

I had attended another acupuncture clinic but was uncomfortable and unhappy with the attention and treatment I was receiving. This experience filled me with some fear and cynicism for eastern medicine in general. So when I made the appointment with Sabine, I was skeptical but had heard good reports about Sabine’s treatment and thought I’d give it a go.

The first time I met Sabine she seemed genuinely interested in my story and instilled a confidence in me that I never felt with any Doctor or previous acupuncturist. She told me that no matter what happened, she believed my body and soul would start to restore itself and when that happened I could begin trying to conceive with a positive attitude. For those who are challenged in that area, a positive attitude is worth a million pound!

During and before each acupuncture treatment, Sabine took time to explain why she was working on certain areas of my body throughout my cycle. I felt that this information helped me a lot to focus on those particular areas and I really believed that my body was restoring itself after each session.
After just 1 month (3/4 sessions of acupuncture) with Sabine my energy levels were coming back, my moods were improving, my menstrual pain had eased incredibly and I was sleeping through the night - something I hadn't done for a long time. My husband noticed the change in me straight away.

After nearly 3 months of Acupuncture with Sabine I fell pregnant. I truly believe that it was my sessions of acupuncture with Sabine that brought me to where I am today. As I write this I am due my first baby in 2 weeks! I cannot thank Sabine enough for the confidence she had in me and my body. I would and do highly recommend Sabine for Acupuncture therapy for any couple experiencing infertility, either explained or unexplained.

Lisa, 30 Dublin

August 2011 - I started attending Sabine in March this year following 2 miscarriages. I had one in June 2010 and another in February 2011. At this stage I was quite distressed and was wondering about tests to try and figure out what was wrong with me.

I had been attending another acupuncturist for 6 months after my first miscarriage - it was going ok but I feel he didn’t really understand the fertility side of things and was still learning himself. From the start Sabine made me feel very relaxed and as she specialises in fertility straight away I felt confident about getting pregnant again.

I had only attended a couple of sessions when I found out I was pregnant. I am now 23 weeks pregnant with my first baby without any other medical assistance and I am still attending regularly.
Sabine is a pleasure to attend, very professional and full of knowledge about all pregnancy related issues and I would happily recommend her.  I really enjoy my 1 hour sessions, nice to sit back relax and feel I am doing the best for myself and my baby.

Emily, 35 Dublin

I began my acupuncture treatments with Sabine in February following a miscarriage in July.  I had been trying for a baby since then to no avail.

After only four sessions I discovered I was pregnant!  I was a bit skeptical before my first appointment and almost didn't go but so glad I did.

Sabine made me feel comfortable and assuring from the very beginning and put me at ease. I am now nearly three months pregnant and it is all down to Sabine.
I would highly recommend her to anyone who is having problems conceiving.

Lindsay, 30 Dublin

Acupuncture for Male Fertility

Did you know that men produce millions of sperm every single day? However it can take 2.5 to 3 months for these new sperm to develop.
This means that while there is constant production of sperm, it takes about 3 months for them to grow and fully mature to be able to swim and fertilise an egg.

During that 3 months timeframe, men have the ability to drastically improve their fertility and the quality of their sperm.
But as the saying goes “Nothing changes if nothing changes”. Sperm will only be healthy and able to fertilise an egg after a new batch of sperm has developed under better conditions.

Better conditions means a 3-6 months plan of acupuncture, optimum nutrition, supplements and some lifestyle changes. Acupuncture has been shown to improve count, motility and morphology.
I highly recommend for all men who want a baby to go on this plan, regardless of whether their test results come back “fine” or not.
Why? Because we can always improve sperm!

Sperm counts have declined over 50% in the last 40 years. This quite alarming. What is considered normal nowadays is less than optimal. There is always room for improvement.
Sperm is half of the equation, it’s 50% of making a baby. The healthier the sperm, the healthier the embryo. So why not produce the sperm possible?
It will take 3 months for acupuncture, nutrition and supplements to have an effect on sperm health.

Clinic Location

41 Dominick Street Lower, Rotunda Dublin 1, D01 YX44

Fees

Fertility Acupuncture: €85 (45-60 min)

Telephone

086 - 3265230

I always reply to enquiries, however I have noticed that my replies can often go to spam due to strong spam filter settings.
Please make sure to check your spam folder, and feel free to follow up with a text message.

Important

As a member of the Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association, my treatments are covered by health insurance companies. Depending on your current health plan you may be entitled to a partial refund.
Please note that I do have a 48hr cancellation policy in place. Failure to cancel your appointment less than 48hrs before your scheduled appointment will incur a €15 fee to cover the room rental cost. Appointments cancelled less than 3h in advance are due IN FULL
Please note that I currenty do not hard card payment facilitites and can only accept cash or cheque. I will issue a receipt for your health insurance.

Local Fertility Resources in Dublin

Holistic Nutrition

Bia Beo
25 Suffolk Street
Dublin 2
biabeo.ie

Fertility Yoga

Yoga Mammas
Heatherview Lawn
Tallaght, Dublin 24
yogamammas.ie

Fertility Yoga

Barefoot Yoga
Millbank Business Park
Lucan, Co.Dublin
barefootyogastudio.ie

Fertility Hypnosis

Aisling Killoran
21a Lea Road
Sandymount, Dublin 4
conceivewithease.ie

Fertility Resources That Serve Dublin

Holistic Fertility Clinic

Zita West
www.zitawest.com

Did you know?

You can continue with your acupuncture treatments when you get your long awaited BFP.
Acupuncture is safe throughout pregnancy, even in the first trimester. In fact, it is the best drug free therapy to address fatigue and morning sickness.
It is also useful to maintain hormone levels and prevent miscarriage.