Ilana Garsin

The Best of both worlds!

I am an experienced acupuncturist based in Elstree and received my BSc Hons from Portsmouth University. I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council and have completed a certificate in Acupuncture for Fertility and IVF Support at The City College of Acupuncture.

In my practice, I treat a variety of conditions including women’s issues such as infertility, IVF treatment and supporting women through pregnancy.

It is wonderful to finally have an IVF clinic in Elstree and I am so lucky to be able to work together with the clinic to fulfill people’s dreams. Together, we will help support couples emotionally and physically through this challenging journey.

My treatments work to enhance the function of the uterine environment by increasing blood flow, developing a thick lining and therefore improving the chance of successful implantation and embryo retention. Acupuncture can be used to regulate stress hormones and decrease the side effects of hormonal IVF treatment such as headaches and flushing.

Acupuncture treatment may begin at the start of the IVF cycle and before and after embryo transfer. This is to increase blood flow to the uterus lining in order to increase receptivity, and to reduce any uterine contractions or spasms that may occur due to the transfer procedure itself. At this point treatment also works to regulate stress hormones which affect implantation, reduce anxiety and calm the mind

If possible, it is recommended I work with patients 3-6 months before commencing IVF to regulate the menstrual cycle, support efficient and regular ovulation and optimise hormone levels. This ensures the release of the best possible egg and the development of the best possible endometrium.

The most well known study of acupuncture and ART was a German study published in the April 2002 issue of Fertility & Sterility. This study showed that using acupuncture on the same day as IVF embryo transfer, both before and after the transfer, increased success rates to 42.5% (success rate for the control group not receiving acupuncture was 26.3%). Combining the high -tech power of modern ART with the holistic wisdom of centuries of CM, one makes use of the best of both worlds.

For further reading  

• Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, et al. Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and
  meta-analysis. BMJ 2008;336(7643):545-549.
• Anderson BJ, Haimovici F, Ginsburg ES, Schust DJ, Wayne PM, In vitro fertilization and acupuncture: clinical efficacy and mechanistic basis. Altern Ther Health Med. 2007
  May-Jun;13(3):38-48
• Paulus W. et Al., Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted r e – productive therapy. Fertility and Sterility 2002; 77:721-724
• Westergaard LG , Mao Q , Kr ogslund M, Sandrini S , Lenz S, Grinsted J. Acupuncture on the date of em – bryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial. Fertil Steril 2006;85: 1341-6.