This page discusses Fertility Acupuncture and Chinese medicine in Essendon, Melbourne. For the discussion on Acupuncture IVF support, please visit here: acupuncture IVF support.
Robert has over a decades experience working with patients who have fertility, pregnancy or women’s health concerns and those undergoing IVF treatments. Robert incorporates the latest scientific research into his treatments and combines these with traditional, holistic approaches. He commonly works with gynaecologists, obstetricians, and reproductive specialists and firmly believes in the integration of medicine, combining the best of East and West, in order to get the best outcome possible. Robert completed his clinical internship in the Gynaecology department of Shanghai Shu Guang Hospital and went on to complete further training in natural fertility and IVF support. Robert is the Clinical Director of Essendon Natural Health. He is supported by his two wonderful colleagues, Alicia and Sonia.
If you are interested in making an appointment or would simply like to have a chat, please feel free to contact Robert at the clinic on 03 9337 8572 or send him an email at robert@essendonnaturalhealth.com.au. Appointments with Sonia and Alicia can be made online here.
A typical consultation begins with your practitioner assessing the health of both partners. The first step is to understand the current state of health and wellbeing in each partner to determine what kind of care is required and for whom. This involves seeing the male partner’s semen analysis (if available), blood tests, and an understanding of the state of his general health. Men are very simple in this regard, for women its a little more complex. For the female partner, your practitioner needs to understand the cycle regularity, quality of menstruation, ovulation timing/quality, cervical mucus quality, viewing of Basal Body Temperature charts if available, hormonal panels and other blood tests, internal ultrasound/tubal patency/laparoscopy results (if they have been performed), and a general understanding of her health.
At Essendon Natural health, our practitioners utilise a versatile approach to encourage self healing that explores both the East Asian and western traditions of medicine. This may involve integrating acupuncture, both traditional Chinese and very gentle Japanese styles of practice, moxibustion (heat therapy), Cupping therapy, soft tissue release techniques such as abdominal massage, dietary and lifestyle modifications, Herbal medicine (Chinese and Western), and natural medicines.
Robert has over a decades experience working with patients who have fertility, pregnancy or women’s health concerns and those undergoing IVF treatments. He is very experienced in integrating natural medicine alongside conventional care and has a good working relationship with particular specialists in Melbourne. Robert is renowned for being very thorough and is dedicated to working with patients undergoing fertility related concerns. Although he is booked out weeks in advance, he is supported by two wonderful practitioners, Lachlan and Alicia, who can help get patients started on their journey until they can see Robert.
Initial Fertility Acupuncture Consultation $135.00 (One Hour)
Follow Up Acupuncture & Natural Medicine Consultations $100.00 (One Hour)
Herbal medicine and supplements are an extra cost. These are always discussed with you prior to dispensing. HICAPS in available onsite for instant private health rebates and concession is available for students and pension card holders.
Acupuncture consultations last for one hour and the needles are retained for about 25-30 minutes.
Yes, all are welcome at the clinic. Our practitioners have a lot of experience in working with same sex couples undergoing assisted reproductive techniques and IVF treatments.
For the discussion on Acupuncture IVF support, please click here: acupuncture IVF support.
If you are interested in making an appointment for fertility acupuncture in Melbourne or would simply like to have a chat, please feel free to contact the clinic on 03 9337 8572.
Anderson, B.J., Haimovici, F., Ginsburg, E.S., Schust, D.J., & Wayne, P.M. (2007). In vitro fertilisation and acupuncture: clinical efficacy and mechanistic basis. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 13 (3), 38-48.
Chen, A., et al. (2011). Effect of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on sperm quality in infertility patients with sperm abnormality. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 9 (4), 219-222.
Collin, P., Kaukinen, K., Valimaki, M., & Salmi, J. (2002). Endocrinological disorders and celiac disease. Endocrine Reviews, 23, 464-483.
Cridennda D., Magarelli, P., and Cohen, M. (2005). Acupuncture and in vitro fertilisation: does the number of treatment impact reproductive outcomes? Society for Acupuncture Research, 301, 85-88.
Dieterle, S., Li, C., Greb, R., et al. (2009). A prospective randomized placebo-controlled study of the effect of acupuncture in infertile patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia. Fertility & Sterility, 92, 1340-3.
Gerfinfkel, E., Cedenho, A.P., Yamamura, Y., et al. (2003). Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities. Asian Journal of Andrology. 5,
Gougeon, A. (1996). Regulation of ovarian follicular development in primates: facts and hypotheses. Endocrine Reviews, 17 (2), 121-155.
Jackson, J., Rosen, M., McLean, T., Moro, J., Croughan, M., & Cedars, M. (2008). Prevalence of celiac disease in a cohort of women with unexplained infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 89, 1002-1004.
Jo, J., & Lee Y, J. (2017). Effectiveness of acupuncture in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture Medicine, 35 (3), 162-170.
Li, L., Dou, L., Leung, P.C. & Wang, C.C. (2012). Chinese herbal medicines for threatened miscarriage. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD008510. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008510.pub2
Li, L., Dou, L., Leung, P., Chung, T. & Wang, C. (2016) Chinese herbal medicines for unexplained recurrent miscarriage. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD010568. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010568.pub2
Nepomnaschy, P.A., Welch, K.B., McConnell, D.S., Low, B.S., Strassmann, B.I. & England, B.G. (2006). Cortisol levels and very early pregnancy loss in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103 (10), 3938-3942.
Paulus, W.E., Zhang, M., Strehler, E., El-Danasouri, I., & Sterzik, K. (2002). Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility & Sterility, 77 (4), 721-4.
Pei, J., Strehler, E., Noss, U., et al. (2005). Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultrastructure after acupuncture treatment for idiopathic male infertility. Fertility & Sterility, 84, 141-7.
Qian, Y., Xia, X.R., Ochin, H., Huang, C., Gao, C., Gao, L., et al (2017). Effect of acupuncture on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet, 295(3), 543-558.
Rostami, K., Steegers, E., Wong, W., Braat, D., & Steegers-Theunissen, R. (2001). Coeliac disease and reproductive disorders: a neglected association. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology, 96, 146-149.
Reid, k. (2015). Chinese herbal medicine for female infertility: an updated meta-analysis. Complimentary Therapies and Medicine, 23 (1), 116-28.
See, C.J., McCulloch, M., Smikle, C., et al. (2011). Chinese herbal medicine and clomiphene citrate for anovulation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17, 397-405.
Sela, K., Lehavi, O., Buchan, A., Kedar-Shalem, K., Yavetz, H., & Lev-ari, S. (2011). Acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment for women undergoing intrauterine insemination. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 3, (2), 77-81.
Showell, M.G., Brown, J., Yazdani, A., Stankiewicz, M.T., Hart, R.J. (2014). Antioxidant vitamins and minerals for male subfertility. Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 12. Art.No.:CD007411, DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD007411.pub3
Siterman, S., Eltes, F., Wolfson, V., Lederman, H. & Bartoov, B. (2000). Does acupuncture affect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study. Andrologia, 21 (1), 31-39.
Sun, F. & Yu, J. (1999). Effect of TCM on plasma beta-endorphin and placental endocrine function in threatened abortion. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi, 19 (2), 87-89.
Takakuwa, K., Yasuda, M., Hataya, I., Sekizuka, N., Tamura, M., Arakawa, M., Higashino, M., Hasegawa, I. & Tanaka, K. (1996). Treatment for patients with recurrent abortion with positive antiphospholipid antibodies using a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Journal of Medicine, 25 (5), 489-494.
VARTA. (2018). Fertility and infertility. [online] Available at: https://www.varta.org.au/information-and-support/fertility-and-infertility [Accessed 9 Apr. 2018].
VARTA. (2018). Planning to have a baby. [online] Available at: https://www.varta.org.au/information-support/fertility-and-infertility/planning-have-baby. Best Acupuncture for fertility Melbourne
Zhang, J., Li, T., Zhou, L., et al (2010). Chinese herbal medicine for subfertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Art. No.: CD007535. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007535.pub2
