Egg Freezing & Acupuncture

A Brief Introductory Guide

Understanding the Challenges of Egg Freezing and the Benefits of Acupuncture

Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is an increasingly popular option for women who wish to preserve their fertility for future family planning. This procedure involves harvesting a woman’s eggs, freezing them, and storing them until she is ready to conceive. While egg freezing offers women greater flexibility and peace of mind, it is not without its challenges. The process requires hormone stimulation, egg retrieval, and careful monitoring—all of which can cause both physical and emotional strain. Incorporating acupuncture as a complementary therapy can help manage these challenges by promoting hormonal balance, reducing stress, and supporting overall well-being throughout the egg-freezing journey.

The Wellspring Integrative Approach

Women’s Health during all stages of conception, pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery is our specialty here at Wellspring Health.

It takes a village to raise a child, but before that, it takes a team to make a baby. You can’t do it alone and we at Wellspring Health are privileged to be a member of your team. Wellspring Health uses Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine) and Conventional medicine in an integrative approach. This combination can enhance treatment outcomes, manage the side effects of conventional treatments (like chemotherapy), and provide additional support for chronic or complex conditions. We love science and we love working with conventional medical Doctors. This approach combines the strengths of both systems, offering a broader range of treatment options and emphasizing the prevention of disease as well as the treatment of existing conditions.

Reproductive Endocrinologists & Gynecologist Support During Fertility & Pregnancy: We enjoy collaborating with physicians and have extensive experience working with a large network of specialists in Manhattan. We can provide recommendations and referrals for every stage of the fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum journey.

Doula Support: We frequently work with doulas throughout all stages of pregnancy and delivery, providing integrated care and support to enhance the birthing experience.

Below is a comprehensive introductory guide to how Wellspring & TCM can support you throughout every stage of your journey. Feel free to jump to any specific section that best suits your needs.

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Challenges Associated with Egg Freezing:

  1. Hormonal Stimulation and Side Effects:
    One of the most significant challenges of egg freezing is the use of fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs in a single cycle. These medications, which include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), can lead to a range of side effects such as bloating, mood swings, headaches, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort. Hormonal fluctuations can also create emotional instability, making it difficult to stay balanced and centered.

  2. Physical Discomfort and Fatigue:
    Hormonal stimulation often causes the ovaries to become enlarged, which can result in pelvic discomfort, cramping, and tenderness. This physical discomfort can make everyday activities more challenging and can contribute to overall fatigue. After egg retrieval, some women may also experience abdominal pain, spotting, or mild cramping, making the recovery period physically taxing.

  3. Emotional Stress and Anxiety:
    The decision to freeze one’s eggs can be emotionally complex, often involving feelings of uncertainty, fear, or concern about future fertility. The process itself—requiring frequent doctor visits, injections, and monitoring—can lead to heightened stress and anxiety. Women may feel pressured to produce a high number of quality eggs, which can create emotional strain and affect mental health.

  4. Financial and Time Commitment:
    Egg freezing is a significant financial investment, which can add to the overall stress of the process. In addition to the cost of the procedure, there are expenses for fertility medications and long-term storage fees for frozen eggs. The time commitment required for regular monitoring, hormone injections, and recovery can also disrupt daily routines and create additional pressure.

  5. Uncertainty About Future Fertility:
    While egg freezing can offer reassurance, there are no guarantees that the eggs will result in a future pregnancy. The uncertainty about the success of the process can contribute to ongoing emotional stress and anxiety. Concerns about egg quality, the number of viable eggs retrieved, and the potential for successful fertilization in the future can weigh heavily on women throughout the process.

From Our Clients

“She is the most amazing and caring acupuncturist in NYC!”

- Farnoor F.

“Kirsten was fantastic!  Her knowledge base and ability to combine a variety of modalities - acupuncture, red light therapy, cupping, herbal remedies, acupressure, and more - helped me feel so much better.  In addition to her great skill set and medical knowledge, she is a caring, supportive provider. “

- Tara D.

“Dr. Manges is wonderful! So knowledgeable, accommodating, kind, and compassionate. The practice is so calming and professionally run.”

- Laura M

Benefits of Acupuncture for Egg Freezing Support:

Acupuncture, a practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), involves inserting thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body to balance energy flow and promote healing. Acupuncture is increasingly being used as a supportive therapy for women undergoing egg freezing due to its ability to manage physical and emotional challenges, regulate hormones, and promote reproductive health. Here are the key benefits of acupuncture for those considering or undergoing egg freezing:

  1. Balances Hormones and Reduces Side Effects of Medications:
    Acupuncture helps regulate the body’s endocrine system and balances hormone levels, making it an effective therapy for managing side effects associated with hormonal stimulation. By targeting specific acupuncture points, the treatment can alleviate symptoms such as bloating, mood swings, headaches, and fatigue, helping women feel more comfortable and balanced throughout the process.

  2. Improves Blood Flow to the Ovaries and Uterus:
    Acupuncture promotes healthy blood circulation to the reproductive organs, ensuring that the ovaries receive adequate oxygen and nutrients during stimulation. Improved blood flow can support ovarian response, enhance the development of healthy follicles, and increase the chances of retrieving high-quality eggs. Acupuncture also helps create a nourishing environment within the uterus, which is beneficial for overall reproductive health.

  3. Reduces Stress and Anxiety:
    Acupuncture is known for its ability to calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and promote relaxation. By activating the parasympathetic nervous system, acupuncture lowers cortisol levels (the body’s primary stress hormone) and helps alleviate anxiety. This makes it easier for women to manage the emotional ups and downs associated with egg freezing, promoting a more positive outlook and greater emotional resilience.

  4. Supports the Body During the Recovery Phase:
    After egg retrieval, some women may experience cramping, spotting, or mild abdominal discomfort. Acupuncture can aid in the recovery process by reducing inflammation, promoting tissue repair, and enhancing circulation to the pelvic region. This can help speed up recovery, minimize discomfort, and ensure that the body returns to a balanced state more quickly.

  5. Improves Sleep and Energy Levels:
    Many women undergoing egg freezing report disrupted sleep and fatigue due to hormonal changes and stress. Acupuncture helps regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle, improve sleep quality, and boost energy levels. This support allows women to feel more rested and energized, making it easier to cope with the physical and emotional demands of the egg freezing process.

  6. Promotes Emotional Well-Being and Confidence:
    Acupuncture addresses not only the physical aspects of health but also emotional well-being. Regular sessions can help regulate mood, promote a sense of calm, and reduce feelings of fear or uncertainty. This emotional support can help women feel more confident and empowered as they navigate their fertility preservation journey.

Fertility, Pregnancy & Postpartum We Treat With TCM

Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a holistic and individualized approach to supporting women’s health through all stages of fertility, pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery. By addressing imbalances in the body and promoting harmony between the physical and emotional aspects of health, TCM can enhance reproductive health, support a healthy pregnancy, and aid in postpartum healing. With its long history and integrative methods, TCM continues to be a valuable option for women seeking a natural and comprehensive approach to wellness and maternal care.

  • Female Infertility: Improving ovarian function and egg quality, balancing hormones, supporting Uterine Health, blood flow, nervous system, emotional support, and stress management.

  • Stress Management, Nervous System Supports & Pregnancy: Regulate stress response, stimulate endorphins, balance cortisol, sleep, muscle tension, pain relief, emotional support, a place to relax, let go and get some care.

  • IVF/IUI: Support pre- and post-embryo transfer, reducing IVF-related stress and anxiety, and managing hormonal fluctuations during IUI/IVF.

  • Egg Freezing: Optimizing ovarian reserve, preparing the body for egg retrieval, managing side effects of hormonal stimulation, and post-egg retrieval recovery.

  • Pain & Pregnancy: Relieving back pain, pelvic pain, sciatic and joint pain.

  • Labor Prep, Delivery & Induction: Promote cervical ripening and softening, supporting natural and assisted labor induction, pain relief, and breech babies.

  • Prenatal & Trimester Support: Nausea and fatigue, fetal development support, breech presentation and positioning, insomnia and stress.

  • Post Partaum: Emotional supports balancing hormones, stress response, lactation support, activating parasympathetic nervous system to encourage relaxation.

  • Lactation: Enhancing milk supply and flow, addressing blocked milk ducts and mastitis, balancing hormones, reducing stress, and improving milk quality.

  • Recurrent Miscarriage: Strengthening uterine health, immunological factors, managing stress and anxiety.

  • Male Infertility: Improving sperm quality and motility, varicocele, hormone, and libido imbalance.

Parting Thoughts:

Egg freezing can be a physically and emotionally challenging process, but acupuncture offers a natural and effective way to support women throughout their journey. By balancing hormones, reducing stress, improving blood flow, and enhancing overall well-being, acupuncture can make the egg freezing experience more manageable and positive. Integrating acupuncture into an egg freezing plan allows women to feel more supported, balanced, and confident as they take control of their reproductive future.

Resources & Links to Learn More

Clinical research on the effects of acupuncture on egg-freezing outcomes is just beginning. However, acupuncture has been studied in the context of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer, which are related to egg quality and reproductive health. Here are five studies that explore acupuncture's impact in these areas:

  1. Acupuncture Performed Around the Time of Embryo Transfer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: This study examined the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as an adjunct to embryo transfer in IVF treatments. The findings indicated that acupuncture performed around the time of embryo transfer was associated with increased clinical pregnancy rates. 

    RBMO Journal