IVF Checklist

IVF CHECKLIST

It has been well document that there are numerous benefits of having regular acupuncture in the lead up to and during the IVF process. Studies such as the Paulus Protocol in 2002 and the Mannheimer et al meta analysis in 2008 are examples of the benefits of using acupuncture during this time. The support and treatment you receive from your acupuncturist during the process is invaluable and most people do quite a bit of research in finding the right acupuncturist that can help them during this time.

Assisted Reproductive Technology has become big business and is increasing year on year. As of 31 March 2017 there were 132 licensed clinics in the UK and in the year 2016-2017, over 75,000 IVF cycles were conducted in 119 licensed clinics. Most of my patients do their homework before they choose a fertility clinic but it is useful for those who do not know where to start to have a guide to use when looking for the right one. It’s a stressful time in a person’s life so you want to make sure you have chosen a clinic that’s right for you.

Success Rates – Pregnancy rates and live birth rates are two different things so please ensure you take this into consideration. Clinics must publish these results so please look on the clinic’s website for detailed information.
Cost – Obviously cost will be an issue for most people, but its important to look at the factors surrounding the charges. As an average, clinics will start around £5,500 per cycle but this may not include freezing embryos or any screening you may require so please look carefully at the breakdown of charges.
Location of the Clinic – this is crucial as you will have to be going to the clinic for scans on a regular basis and therefore location, opening hours and transportation routes will be a key factor.
Blood Tests – you may have to visit a clinic on various occasions for regular blood tests. Do ensure that this is something that you are able to organise between your work and personal life and ensure it does not cause you a high level of stress.
Packages Offered – some clinics will offer “add ons” such as Embryo Glue, Pre-Genetic Testing (PGS), tests for natural killer cells (NKC’s), endometrial scratch, etc. Please look at the costs of these treatments vs. the efficacy rates before you buy packages.
Patient Satisfaction – ensure the clinic publishes their patient satisfaction statistics. While cost and success rates are easy to measure, patient satisfaction rates may be more difficult to gauge and a useful statistic. You are paying a lot of money for the services and therefore its important that you get the service that is right for you.
Out of hours contact number. It is essential that someone from the clinic is available to contact you at any time you need it. There have been many times that patients need to speak to someone at a clinic, only to leave a message with no return phone call. Please ensure they have a way you can contact them when needed.
Patient After-Care – see if the clinic offers an after-care service. The two weeks after embryo transfer is probably the hardest as you feel very much on your own and you may need to talk to a clinic employee about any symptoms you may be experiencing.

I hope you find this document useful when choosing your fertility clinic. As always, please ensure when you undertake Assisted Reproductive Technology that you combine it with an acupuncture programme to increase the success rates.

Melanie Hackwell

Acupuncturist and Chinese Massage Therapist

BSc (Hons) Lic. Ac. Tui na, MBAcC, AFN, MRTCM

Robert Griffiths

January 30, 2024

I run two busy chiropractic clinics in Notting Hill and The City. Mel is the only person I send all my patients too if they are having any issues with fertility and conceiving. Mel helped my wife immensely when we were trying for our second child, so I know just how amazing she is at her job and as a person! Every single patient I send her comes back with the most amazing reports of professionalism, skill and care. If google allowed 10 stars, I would give it! Thanks Mel x

Emma newsom

December 14, 2023

Mel has been an essential part of my fertility journey. I’ve had a long rocky road to finally being pregnant and I can’t thank her enough for all the support and advice she has given me along the way. Her care, kindness and compassion has been at times life changing for me, particularly during the dark days. She is an awesome Acupuncturist, she treats your body your mind and your soul.

Anna Henderson

August 5, 2023

Melanie is one of the most knowledgeable, empathetic and effective practitioners I’ve ever come across. After two years of sub-fertility I came to her through a recommendation, and became pregnant with my first child within two months of treatment. I’m now expecting my second baby after additional sessions with Mel. I’ve found her to be a source of in-depth information and well rounded treatment in this area, with a true understanding of what her patients are going through both physically and emotionally. But this important element aside, she really gets results. As someone who hasn’t had acupuncture before, I was amazed at the difference it has made and I am forever grateful to have met Mel! I would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone who is struggling to conceive.

Aine Connellan

May 16, 2022

I saw Mel once a week for several weeks leading up to and during my ivf treatment in 2022. While the doctors are great, they are more clinical and matter of fact, and it can be a very lonely and tough road. Mel felt like my ally throughout the process, she understood the emotional turmoil of going through fertility treatment and showed kindness and empathy. She is extremely knowledgeable and experienced and makes you feel at ease and like you are doing all you can for the desired outcome. I'm extremely grateful I was in her care for my fertility journey.

Angharad D

February 10, 2021

Melanie is just great - I can't recommend her highly enough. I'd never had acupuncture before and wasn't sure what to expect when I first met her, but she put me at ease, explained everything simply and was incredibly reassuring. As a fertility specialist she's experienced, compassionate and knows what she's talking about - she also has lots of practical advice and suggestions about going through fertility treatment that really help. I went to her every week for several months and I'm so glad I did.

Julia Griffiths

August 20, 2020

I had been trying to conceive for over a year before I met Mel. I was feeling pretty low and willing to try anything that might help. Quite honestly, the idea of acupuncture had not appealed to me before as I’m not a fan of needles! Mel was recommended highly by a friend and I immediately saw why. She has an incredibly calming and reassuring approach which made me feel understood and at ease to share my experiences and emotions. This was an amazing feeling after feeling alone for so long. With the acupuncture itself, I needn’t have worried! With Mel’s gentle approach and years of experience, I didn’t feel a thing and was surprised by how relaxed it made me feel. I left each session feeling strong and positive, exactly what I needed. I am now expecting a baby in a few days and know, without a doubt that Mel significantly helped prepare my mind and body for conception and during early pregnancy. I am forever grateful to her and would highly recommend her to anyone experiencing fertility challenges.

Hazel Mowbray

I credit Melanie with my gorgeous healthy baby, and that I’m expecting a second baby. Having had 3 miscarriages, 2 rounds of IVF, and 1 lot of uterine surgery I started acupuncture in preparation for a third round of IVF. Two weeks later I was pregnant naturally (the power of acupuncture!) It was a horrendous pregnancy, with a constant fear that I would miscarry or deliver early, and I experienced painful cramping until 28 weeks. Melanie was quite simply the best thing that happened that pregnancy. She was calm and empathetic and kind, and I believe acupuncture is the only thing which helped reduce the agonising cramps and calmed my very anxious mental state. She changed her approach each week depending on what was happening, and there was a notable positive difference in how I felt immediately after acupuncture and in the days that followed. I will be eternally grateful to her for supporting me through that pregnancy and credit her with my lovely health baby. We then decided to try for a second baby via IVF. I started seeing Melanie a few moths before the treatment was going to start, and within 2 weeks was naturally pregnant again. Medical miracle #2, or the power of acupuncture (I like to think the latter). This time I was diagnosed with a sub chorionic hematoma at 8 weeks and given a 50/50 change of a successful pregnancy. Melanie had exactly the right treatment for this, helping to reduce the internal bleeding and support positive blood flow. The hematoma resolved without bleeding out by 16 weeks - having been told by hospital to expect significant bleeding. Having been a sceptic of alternative medicine in the past, I found acupuncture to be a complete revelation. Melanie really explains what she’s doing and why, and is honest about what will be effective. She has quite literally changed my life for the better - both discovering a type of treatment which really works for me and which I know I will come back to in the future, and her personally: her support, kindness and professionalism. The facts speak for themselves in my case, and a thank you doesn’t quite do Melanie justice.

Katie Becker

August 11, 2020

Discovering Melanie has been an absolutely pivotal and life changing experience for me. I came to her as a very stressed and unhappy person, desperate to conceive after many years of trying. She treated me as an individual in the most holistic and compassionate way. Identifying areas in which I could make positive lifestyle changes to improve my fertility, reduce my anxiety and boost my chances of conceiving. I genuinely felt a huge weight had been lifted from me and after a short time of being treated by Melanie I became pregnant. I had a very happy and healthy pregnancy and continued to see Melanie throughout. The first time I felt my baby kicking was during a session with Melanie and that was a very special moment which felt very apt! When my husband and I decided to try to conceive our second child, I became pregnant again after my first session back with Melanie! I truly believe that being back on her treatment table did wonders for my body and my mind again. I couldn’t recommend Melanie as a therapist more, she is a wonderful, empathetic and very kind woman and a skilled and knowledgable therapist who is deeply passionate about her work.