At Palmetto Acupuncture Clinic, we consider it a privilege to work with patients in the area of fertility. Martin Herbkersman is Board Certified in Oriental Reproductive Medicine and is a founding member and Fellow of the ABORM (The American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine). The ABORM certifies the the practitioner has an advanced knowledge in the area of fertility, Acupuncture, and Herbal Medicine.

Our patients range from those who want to use only natural methods of fertility treatments, to those who choose to use the latest advances in modern medicine, and everywhere in between. Each patient is treated as a unique individual, so every treatment plan is tailored for the individual or couple. Whether the patient is just embarking on the fertility journey, or has already employed the most modern techniques, Martin Herbkersman will maximize the possibilities using methods that have thousands of years behind them, or modern studies showing efficacy.

ACUPUNCTURE AND HERBAL MEDICINE

Acupuncture and herbal medicine has been used to enhance fertility for thousands of years. They are time tested and, by nature, work in harmony with the body to achieve balance, removing barriers to fertility. One advantage to using the natural approach to fertility is that there are generally no side effects from treatment. Because the use of Traditional Asian Medicine seeks to find balance in the body, the patient tends to be healthier during and after treatment.

Should a patient choose to use only natural methods, this office has the knowledge and experience specific to fertility and Acupuncture and Herbal medicine. Because of the National Board Certification in Oriental Reproductive Medicine, Martin Herbkersman is educated and apprised of the latest developments in Oriental Reproductive Medicine.

We will set you up with an individualized plan aimed at balancing the body to enable your best chances of conceiving and carrying to term. We will use Acupuncture, Herbal medicine, supplementation, lifestyle changes and other helpful tools, along with thousands of years of knowledge and more recent discoveries, to help the patient achieve the ultimate goal of having a baby.

Call us today to set up your individualized assessment - 803.806.8889.

ACUPUNCTURE AND ART (assisted reproductive technologies)

As well as treating infertility patients solely with acupuncture and herbal medicine, we also treat patients who are currently undergoing conventional fertility treatments. Commonly known as ART, Assisted Reproductive Technologies is a general term used to describe a number of different medical procedures designed to increase the probability of fertilization and to promote implantation.

We work closely with Western infertility specialists to enhance the effectiveness of ART procedures by incorporating acupuncture both before and after your procedure. "A woman's uterus typically undergoes several contractions while an embryo is being transferred, which reduces the chances of successful implantation significantly." (1) The treatment protocol utilized by the Acupuncture Fertility Center combines specific acupuncture points, believed to help relax the uterus, with relaxation therapy and massage to optimize the ability of the endometrium to receive the embryo.

A study, published in the April 2002 issue of Fertility and Sterility by researchers in Germany and China, found that "acupuncture seems to be a useful tool for improving pregnancy rate after ART." (2) The study involved 160 patients undergoing ART (IVF and ICSI). The group was split randomly into a control group that underwent embryo transfer without acupuncture treatments and an experimental group that received acupuncture treatments 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer.

The study included only patients whose embryo quality was considered to be good. The cause of infertility, methods used for sperm preparation, and culture conditions were the same for both groups. All patients received hormone therapy before and after the transfer, and a maximum of three embryos were transferred into each woman's uterus.

" The primary point of the study was to determine whether acupuncture improves the clinical pregnancy rate [the presence of a fetal sac 6 weeks after embryo transfer] after IVF or ICSI treatment." (2) Clinical pregnancy was achieved in 26.3% of the control group (21 of 80), whereas clinical pregnancy was achieved in 42.5% of the experimental group (34 of 80). The researchers concluded that "the results demonstrate that acupuncture therapy improves pregnancy rate." (2)

Some of the ART procedures include:

For more information about Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine combined with modern fertility treatments, please visit the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine, visit www.ABORM.org

1 - Dr. Nancy Snyderman. "Pins and Needles: Could Acupuncture Help Promote Pregnancy?" ABC News. April 16, 2002.

2 - Paulus M.D., Wolfgang E., et. al. "Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproductive therapy", Fertility and Sterility, vol. 77, no. 4, April 2002, Elsevier Science, Inc.