Ep 176 Acupuncture and IVF Success with Hannah Pearn

Can acupuncture really support IVF success? When should you start fertility acupuncture if you’re trying to conceive? And how do you know whether an acupuncturist is truly trained in fertility care, or just really confident with a sign on the door? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes Hannah Pearn, a fertility acupuncturist based in London and host of the Don’t Tell Me to Relax podcast. Together, they explore how acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and Western fertility treatment can work side by side to support patients through IVF, embryo transfer, egg quality concerns, endometriosis, PCOS, recurrent pregnancy loss, male factor infertility, and the emotional stress of trying to conceive. Listeners will learn what to expect at a first fertility acupuncture appointment, how acupuncture treatment may change during different stages of IVF, what questions to ask when choosing a practitioner, and why the evidence around acupuncture and fertility is promising but still complicated. Dr. Shahine and Hannah also answer listener questions about needle fear, PGT-A testing, microbiome testing, follicle count, and the balance between doing everything you can and remembering that infertility is never your fault. In this episode you’ll hear: [1:09] Fertility acupuncture basics [7:28] Hannah’s acupuncture path [11:18] Finding specialists and Questions to Ask [29:46] Acupuncture meets IVF [34:34] Needle fear [36:58] PGT-A testing [42:43] When to start [47:31] Can you boost your egg count? [50:38] Microbiome testing [54:46] Evidence and acupuncture Resources mentioned: donttellmetorelax.coc.uk @donttellmetorelax on IG ❤️Thanks for watching! 💌 Stay up to date with my NEWSLETTER (Free): https://drlorashahine.com/newsletter 📘 Download my EBOOK (Free): https://drlorashahine.com/answers-to-... 🎧 Listen to my PODCAST ‘Brave and Curious’ https://drlorashahine.com/podcast 📚 Check out my BOOKS on Fertility and Miscarriage https://drlorashahine.com/books 📝 Learn more from my BLOG and more resources at my website: https://drlorashahine.com/ 🖤 Let’s Connect: ▫️ EMAIL for collabs→ [email protected] ▫️ INSTAGRAM →   / drlorashahine   ▫️ TIKTOK →   / drlorashahine   ▫️TWITTER →   / drlorashahine   ▫️ FACEBOOK →   / drlorashahine   ▫️ LINKEDIN →   / lora-shahine-md-facog-baba0a16   Watch the video till the end and let me know your thoughts in the comments. If you like this video, please SUBSCRIBE and don’t forget to press the bell 🔔, like, comment, and share. ❤️Stay Brave and Curious ABOUT : Lora Shahine, MD, is a double board certified reproductive endocrinologist and OBGYN currently practicing at Pacific NW Fertility in Seattle, WA. Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Shahine graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and completed her training in medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California at San Francisco, and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Stanford University. As Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington and Director of the Center of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss at Pacific NW Fertility, she is committed to providing excellence in patient care, teaching the next generation of women’s healthcare providers, and continuing research in the fields of fertility and recurrent miscarriage. She has published over 75 peer-reviewed research projects and is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Seattle Gynecology Society, and the Babyquest Fertility Grant organization. Dr. Shahine is an accomplished author including 'Planting the Seeds of Pregnancy: An Integrative Approach to Fertility Care' and best-selling book, 'Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.' Whether through her research, books, lectures, or active social media presense Dr. Shahine is passionate about educating on reproductive health and supporting the feritlity community. DISCLAIMER: The content contained herein is provided for informational and/or entertainment purposes only and not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a healthcare professional. Use the provided information at your own risk. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, please contact your health care provider. #drlorashahine