Fertility Acupuncture

Acupuncture can help increase ones fertility in men and women by reducing stress, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine system. Essentially for a woman who is trying to get pregnant, acupuncture treatments for fertility will help create internal “homeostasis” within a woman’s womb. Think of it as baking a cake, the oven needs to be the right temperature for that cake to bake. Specifically acupuncture can provide better blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, creating a stronger chance for an egg to be nourished and carried to term.

Acupuncture may also help with male infertility. Recent studies have shown that regular acupuncture treatments significantly improve sperm counts and motility.

“Homeostasis”- is the property of a system in which variables are regulated so that internal conditions remain stable and relatively constant

According to Chinese philosophy, the body is composed of 14 channels, these channels have an energy called “QI” (pronounced “Chee”) each one is associated with an organ called meridians.  These meridians run through our bodies. Think of them as veins that move “QI” thru the channels the way veins move blood thru the body in order to nourish the tissues. Stagnation or a block in this flow of energy can result in: depression, fatigue, lack of sleep, physical and emotional illnesses, and an imbalance of homeostasis including infertility.

These meridians can be affected by needling specific acupuncture points, the flow of the energy becomes unblocked and is allowed to flow in a free and balanced way i.e. Homeostasis. The improved energy flow and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing abilities, and enhances physical and emotional well-being.

In a study of 160 women, published April 2002 in the reproductive journal Fertility and Sterility, a group of German researchers found that adding acupuncture to the traditional IVF treatment protocols substantially increased pregnancy success.

In this study one group of 80 patients received two, 25-minute acupuncture treatments — one prior to having fertilized embryos transferred into their uterus, and one directly afterwards. The second group of 80, who also underwent embryo transfer, received no acupuncture treatments.

The result: While women in both groups got pregnant, the rate was significantly higher in the acupuncture group — 34 pregnancies, compared with 21 in the women who received IVF alone.

Ideally acupuncture assisted IVF would be a minimum of two treatments per week leading up to IVF, two treatments as close to or on the day of IVF, and two treatments per week after IVF until fetal heartbeat is detected.

For best results one should begin fertility acupuncture treatments 3 to 4 months before attempting to conceive, as it takes 4-5 months for a follicle to mature from the antral follicle stage.  Fertility acupuncture treatments should be done once a week throughout the menstrual cycle to support fertility and strengthen the uterine walls.

If you become pregnant while receiving acupuncture treatments you are able to continue receiving acupuncture. Treatment will now focus on preventing miscarriage, addressing nausea (morning sickness), lower back pain, and fatigue.  Fertility acupuncture treatments post-ovulation always take into consideration the possibility of fertilized follicle implanting.

You can schedule your first acupuncture treatment for fertility at any time during your cycle except during your menstrual period.