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.
If you are trying to conceive, you most likely have heard the term ‘egg quality’ used quite a bit. “Good egg quality” refers to the chromosomal make-up inside an egg and is critical for the success of an egg to fertilize, develop into an embryo that can implant, and turn into a healthy baby. Women are born equipped with all of the eggs they will ever have, and while age is the biggest influencer on egg quality over time, research suggests that some diet and lifestyle choices as well as environmental factors can also impact the quality of eggs.
While awareness of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) is widespread, most do not fully understand the condition. The undesirable physical and psychological symptoms that women of reproductive age may experience during their luteal phase, around ten to fourteen days before their period, are attributed to PMS.
In Chinese Medicine, women are said to age in seven-year cycles. The seventh cycle (age 49), referred to as ‘Second Spring’, is approximately the age when a woman reaches menopause. At this stage in a woman’s life, the creative energy shifts from providing resources for a new being to conserving, sustaining, and nourishing her own body.
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”).
Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial cells that normally grow inside the uterus grow elsewhere in the body. It affects about 10% of women and can range in symptoms from extremely painful periods, severe PMS, painful intercourse, painful urination or bowel movements to absolutely no symptoms at all. Many women do not realize they have endometriosis until it interferes with their fertility.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, around 25 percent of pregnancies result in a miscarriage. With this high rate—one in four—one would suspect women are miscarrying everywhere, and it would be more normalized, but most couples suffer in silence, and it is not uncommon for women to feel shame on top of the grief that goes along with it.
“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
