Vancouver Integrative Fertility Clinic Pioneers Laser Acupuncture Treatment for Fertility

VANCOUVER, Canada, April 15, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Infertility rates in Canada have almost doubled in the last 20 years, due in part to the fact that an increasing number of women are starting their families in their mid to late thirties. A new non-invasive treatment, called low level light laser therapy (LLLT/photobiomodulation), is offering hope to women struggling to conceive by slowing down and possibly reversing some of the biological markers of reproductive aging. A growing number of studies are showing that LLLT may boost the pregnancy rates of even women who have been unsuccessful with other assisted reproduction treatments like vitro fertilization (IVF).

Known world-wide for his ground-breaking work as an educator and advocate for integrative fertility care, Dr. Lorne Brown is founder and clinical director of Acubalance Wellness Centre in Vancouver-- the first clinic in British Columbia to offer low level laser for fertility treatments.

Dr. Brown has pioneered the Brown Laser for Fertility Method which involves a series of low level lasers treatments directed at specific acupuncture points. Acubalance is the leading clinic in BC to be offering this method.

Until recently Western reproductive medicine has maintained that aging and declining egg quality is an irreversible process. However, research with LLLT being done in Denmark and Japan is showing that it may be possible to improve egg quality, slow down the aging process, and significantly improve fertility in women and men.

LLLT appears to work on many levels to optimize fertility by:

1.    Stimulating the mitochondria to produce more ATP (energy)
2.    Improving blood circulation
3.    Regulating inflammation
4.    Lowering oxidative stress (ROS)
5.    Softening scar tissue
6.    Increasing uterine receptivity
7.    Regulating the autonomic nervous system and the immune system
8.    Working synergistically with Co Q10

A recent study in the journal Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology shows LLLT modulates ovarian function in mature female mice. The study showed that LLLT was able to improve egg and embryo quality in the mice suggesting that, if this can be replicated in human studies, it may have significant implications for the success of IVF for older women.
LLLT studies have also pointed to the efficacy of laser treatment in raising the quality of the male partner's semen, particularly motility.

Similarly, Japanese studies have shown a connection between improved fertility and low level laser therapy concluding that LLLT can help improve the woman's chances of conception. Under the direction of Dr Toshio Ohshiro at Sanno Hospital, an extended trial on LLLT was performed in 701 severe infertile patients, 156 (22.3%) of whom became pregnant. This resulted in a successful live birth rate in over half (50.1%) of those pregnancies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944482/

In another study by Dr. Nakamura in Japan a comparison of blastocyst reaching rate (BRR) before and after the intervention of acupuncture & moxibustion in conjunction with laser treatment (AMLT) was observed in retrospect and found significant differences. Dr. Nakamura's data revealed that blastocyst reaching rate (number of day 5 embryos) almost doubles after the AMLT protocol. Watch interview between Dr. K Nakamura and Dr. Lorne Brown https://acubalance.ca/laser-lllt-photobiomodulation-and-acupuncture-increases-ivf-blastocyst-rate

It appears that LLLT displaces nitric oxide (the biomarker of oxidative stress that blocks oxygen from being absorbed by cells) which allows more oxygen to saturate cells. Laser therapy also allows more ATP (cellular energy) to be produced by the mitochondria of the cells and improves blood circulation, and regulates inflammation. These factors are all beneficial to female reproduction in general.

Dr. Brown sees this treatment offering new avenues of hope for women who are struggling to conceive whether trying to conceive naturally or through IVF.

Combining the laser and acupuncture may also help improve uterine receptivity and reduce the chance of miscarriage. An observational analysis conducted by Acubalance Wellness Centre and Olive Fertility Centre in Vancouver, BC compared the outcomes of patients receiving a series of acupuncture and laser (LLLT) treatments, leading up to and on the day of frozen embryo transfer (FET), with patients receiving no Acubalance treatments. The patients receiving acupuncture and laser had higher pregnancy rates and lower miscarriage rates than those who did not receive it. The most benefit was seen with women who had seven or more sessions in the weeks leading up to transfer day plus two treatments onsite at Olive on the day of FET.

Studies show that the mitochondria of older eggs are not so good at producing ATP. However, the rate of division and successful implantation of embryos has more to do with how much energy (ATP) than with maternal age per se. Similarly, it is known that older follicles have fewer defenses against cellular damage caused by oxidative stress, and that this is related to poorer IVF outcomes.

"All our cells are powered by little structures called mitochondria. Eggs have about 200 times more mitochondria than any other cell. When eggs are developing, they use a tremendous amount of energy. After 35 years the mitochondria wear down. At age 40, nine out of 10 eggs are abnormal." Says Brown. "What is exciting about these studies is that they suggest that LLLT actually goes to the root cause of ovarian decline and improves mitochondrial function and ATP (energy) production which is necessary for aging ovaries."

Acubalance Wellness Centre (Acubalance.ca) is Vancouver British Columbia's leading natural reproductive wellness clinic, known for its integrative & multi-disciplinary approach for fertility, pregnancy support, and women's health. As the first clinic in Western Canada to introduce fertility acupuncture onsite for IVF transfers, Acubalance has helped thousands of women and couples find the way to conceive and have a healthy baby.

SOURCE Acubalance Wellness