If you are considering trying supplements to support your health or reproductive journey, you may be finding a lot of conflicting information. Are supplements effective or not? Why does my doctor recommend a prenatal or Vitamin D supplement but not others? Which supplements might work best for me? While there is emerging research on the effectiveness of many supplements, overall, there tends to be a lack of data available that can make selecting appropriate ones difficult for most people.
Ever since Lily + Horn founder Mary Sabo, L.Ac DACM did her first egg retrieval in 2017 to freeze her eggs, she’s dreamed of being able to recommend a workout that is IVF doctor-approved, challenging, and accessible to patients undergoing IVF and egg freezing cycles. A former dancer and lover of spinning, Mary teamed up with Reproductive Endocrinologist (and marathon runner) Sheeva Talebian, MD, of CCRM NY and Pregnancy/Postpartum personal trainer Julia Neto, founder of Her Move Wellness. Together, they created a series of workout videos that are safe to do at home during retrieval cycles.
The Celluma Pro is a flexible LED light panel used specifically for photobiomodulation or phototherapy. This type of phototherapy can help increase circulation, accelerate tissue repair, decrease internal inflammation, kill acne bacteria on the skin, and improve overall skin tone, texture, and clarity. Since acupuncture does many of these things too, we are very excited to offer this treatment during acupuncture sessions to enhance results even more. Some preliminary studies also show red and near-infrared light therapy may improve fertility outcomes, particularly in women age 35 and older.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a naturally occurring metabolic cofactor in mammals that declines with age. Evidence suggests boosting NAD+ levels could improve egg quality and ovarian function (1,2,3,4). NAD+ is a large molecule and poorly absorbed through digestion, so injections or IV infusions are a preferred way to increase levels. Our team at Lily + Horn has collaborated with Reproductive Endocrinologists in New York City as well as experienced physicians who have been using NAD+ for years to create a dosage and protocol targeting ovarian function and egg quality
For a pregnancy to occur, an embryo must burrow into a woman’s healthy, receptive uterine lining and connect to the blood supply. Her immune system must allow this invasion, and the blood flow to the developing fetus must flow well enough to sustain its development.
Whether you’ve had a few irregular cycles during the pandemic already or are waiting longer than normal for a period, you are not alone. While we’ve known for ages that stress or changing times zones can temporarily shift the timing of the menses, so too can colds, flus, COVID and as it turns out, the COVID vaccine. While it can be weird, especially if your periods are like clockwork or you’ve not experienced this before, if you are trying to conceive naturally, this can be really frustrating.
Validating and processing emotions is far more important for optimizing fertility than faking positivity. Many of our patients feel guilt or shame for having negative emotions like fear and anxiety while trying to get pregnant or during an IVF cycle.
Struggling to conceive is hard on any person who experiences it and no matter how hard you, your doctor or any support person tries, we can’t control or force a pregnancy to happen exactly when or how we want it to. This is what makes infertility so tough, and it can create frustration, fear, anger, resentment, jealousy, shame, or despair. These emotions are normal! But they don’t feel very good, so we like to help our patients navigate THROUGH them, rather than resist or suppress them.
Johns Hopkins Medicine estimates anywhere from 24-50% of infertility cases might be due to underlying endometriosis. Luckily, there are things you can do with or without a diagnosis if you suspect you might have it contributing to your fertility struggles. Here are some tips from a fertility acupuncturist and herbalist to help you navigate trying to conceive with this condition in the mix.
You have prepared for months, done your injections, acupuncture and are filled with anticipation, angst, and probably some fear as retrieval day approaches. To minimize some of the negative thoughts running through your hormone-infused head, we have some suggestions (and reassurance). Read our 5 tips for a peaceful and productive IVF egg retrieval from our integrative fertility doctors.
Chinese Herbal medicine is a sophisticated herbal practice in which specific herbs are combined into targeted, customized formulas to help support each patient’s health goals. It has a wide applicability, supporting digestive issues, insomnia, headaches, and many more conditions, and has been shown in studies to enhance fertility in multiple ways…
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to enhance fertility. The practice of placing thin sterilized needles in specific acupuncture points, typically in combination with customized herbal formulas, targeted nutrition, and lifestyle modifications, has long been believed to treat some of the causes of infertility.
Patients undergoing a cycle of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) have the option of screening embryos using a process called Preimplantation Genetic Screening. PGS testing involves analyzing the number of chromosomes in a few cells of an embryo to determine if it contains the correct number of chromosomes (normal or “euploid”) or the wrong number (abnormal or “aneuploid”).
“Mary Sabo is my miracle worker! It’s really incredible to think that I get to see my eastern doctor every week and have her really listen and do things that help. She is so warm and I feel like because of her, I can achieve my goals. I am not sure if this is the case for others, but my cycles have since gone from 60+ days to 35 days the first month, 30 the second and we’re on track for a 28 day cycle!!”
— T.S
I adore Mary. I have been seeing her for 4 years through a tough miscarriage, a roller coaster pregnancy, and every issue and ailment (fertility and other) along the way. She is so knowledgeable in both eastern and western medicine. I always leave her office feeling amazing, both physically and emotionally. She is kind, caring, patient, and seems to know everything about everything. Her skill in acupuncture is unparalleled - this is evident not only through my own experience, but also the doctors who work with her, the panels she's so often asked to speak on, and the incredibly successful business she so quickly grew. My visits with Mary are the highlight of my week. I cannot recommend her enough.
— M.J.
“Michelle has been treating me at Lily + Horn to support my IVF cycles and also does acupuncture facials. I can’t believe the results! My friends have even commented on my glowing skin. She’s the real deal and I look forward to my sessions every week.”
— ML
