Barcelona Well Woman Clinic

Some of our successes

Brenda and Robert (unexplained infertility)

Vicky and Tom (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Sarah and Ian

Sarah (39) and Ian (41) had been trying to conceive for 2 years, they had tried IVF twice without success and came to me to see if acupuncture could help them to conceive. They both had very stressful jobs which involved working long hours and a lot of business travel. They found it difficult to eat regular meals and spent most night unwinding late at night by sharing a bottle of wine. They both felt very tired during the day and so they drank several cups of coffee throughout the day to keep their energy levels up, Ian also smoked tobacco. They tried to go to the gym regularly but were so busy at work that they struggled to make it even once a week.

Sarah and Ian had been fully investigated and although Sarah’s tests showed no abnormalities, Ian’s semen analysis revealed very poor morphology, with a high number of abnormally shaped sperm. Sarah suffered from premenstrual stress and felt tired all the time.

At their initial consultation, we developed a “fertility plan” and discussed the lifestyle changes that were essential if they really wanted to have a baby. First we looked at how a baby was going to fit in their busy lifestyles and considered ways in which they could organise and manage their schedules both at work and at home. I explained how caffeine negatively affect fertility as it gives you false energy through adrenaline, this stress on the adrenal glands means that you take energy from the kidneys and put them under pressure (the health of the kidneys is very important for conception especially in men). Alcohol is also detrimental as it robs the body of minerals and essential nutrients such as zinc and vitamin B.

I reiterated the importance of eating regular and healthy meals to maintain a steady and balanced flow of energy in the body throughout the day. Sarah was very keen in starting a new healthy life style immediately. Ian was much more reluctant to make any changes as he couldn’t see any relation between lifestyle and conception, but he agreed to give it a try. Both Sarah and Ian came to see me for acupuncture each week and these sessions gave them a chance to ask questions, discuss their progress, how they were finding the lifestyle changes and generally served to help keep them motivated and on track.

A month into the programme and Ian’s complexion had turned from grey and dull to a healthy pink glow. He reported that he felt as though he had a lot more energy and so felt the need to drink less coffee and in the evenings he was drinking a lot less alcohol as he was feeling better. In fact he confessed that he was actually starting to enjoy this new life style. Sarah was also feeling a lot less tired and she found that she didn’t have to take painkillers during her period this month, which was the first time that this had happened in a long while. Ian’s semen was tested after they had been on the programme for two months and his sperm quality and mobility had improved to a normal level. They didn’t want to wait any longer to conceive so they decided to have another try at IVF, Sarah continued to have acupuncture treatments during the whole process and this time it worked! They now have a beautiful 2 year old girl and a 3 month old boy that was conceived naturally and completely unexpectedly but very much welcome.

This case is typical of so many couples that I saw in London and it shows how it is possible to conceive naturally with a few key lifestyle changes and a determined and positive attitude. These lifestyle and attitude changes can be extremely difficult to begin which is why the retreats are such a wonderful resource as they give you the boost and motivation that you need to implement the changes. Once you have started then it is easier to continue especially as you will now have a supportive network.

We are aware that you have to feel comfortable with your program in order for it to succeed. So we discuss all the options with you, making sure that we find something that you can realistically implement and incorporate into your life. This is essential as you need to remain focussed and committed to improving your lifestyle in order to see an improvement in your fertility. Of course we can readjust a few things along the process but regularity, focus and confidence in what you are doing is crucial for success.

Brenda and Robert

Brenda and Robert, both 40 had been trying to conceive for three years before they came to see me. They had been comprehensively tested and were diagnosed of unexplained infertility. Brenda had had 2 unsuccessful IVF attempts, and for 18 months she had been on clomiphene (clomid) to stimulate her ovaries. The stress was beginning to show and was affecting them both physically and emotionally. They had set up a business together four years ago, which they now ran and both worked very long hours seven days a week and had very rarely taken a weekend off in these last four years.

During the initial consultation they were both stunned to realise for the first time that their lives consisted only of work, and that it was necessary to make some big changes in their lives to redress this balance. They both decided to have weekly Acupuncture, take a holiday for the first time in four years and to have at least one weekend a month free. Four months later, they conceived naturally and are now near their due date.

This is a typical case that shows how stress negatively affects your fertility.

Vicky and Tom

Vicky (34) and her husband Tom (37) came to see me because she was diagnosed as having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and they wanted to do something more than just the hormonal treatment given by their doctor. Vicky was angry and upset at having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome because she said that she always thought that she had taken good care of herself.

During the initial consultation I realised that she ate too many diary products and drank orange juice every morning. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine both these products produce too much damp in the system, which could be one of the causes of Vicky’s POS. I drew up an action plan for Vicky which included dietary recommendations, such as reducing her dairy and orange juice intake; weekly acupuncture treatments and Qi Gong classes which made her feeling more energised and relaxed. I also counselled her to try to take things easy and not get too upset about things that were not as she wanted. After four months of following this programme Vicky started to ovulate again and she became pregnant soon after.

Natural conception is possible!

These cases are typical of so many couples that I have worked with and they demonstrate that it is possible to conceive naturally with a few key lifestyle changes and a determined and positive attitude. These lifestyle and attitude changes can be extremely difficult to begin which is why the retreats are such a wonderful resource as they give you the boost and motivation that you need to implement the changes. Once you have started then it is easier to continue especially as you will now have a supportive network.

We are aware that you have to feel comfortable with your program in order for it to succeed. So we discuss all the options with you, making sure that we find something that you can realistically implement and incorporate into your life. This is essential as you need to remain focussed and committed to improving your lifestyle in order to see an improvement in your fertility. Of course we can re-adjust a few things along the process but regularity, focus and confidence in what you are doing is crucial for success.