Why Acupuncture Works
Acupuncture is an effective and complementary approach in dealing with fertility issues. Acupuncture subtly rebalances body functions which can help to facilitate conception. Often acupuncture increases the viability of Assisted Reproductive Therapies (ART) like IUI and IVF. Research has shown that acupuncture can significantly increase the success rate of ART.
Clinical experience and research shows that acupuncture can increase fertility in women by
• Regulating the menstrual cycle
• Regulating hormonal functions, decreasing elevated levels of FSH and encouraging ovulation
• Thickening of endometrial lining
• Increasing and regulating beneficial cervical fluid
• Decreasing stress
• Reducing spasm in fallopian tubes
• Increasing the libido
• Strengthening the immune system
• Prevent Miscarriages
Increase fertility in men by
• Improving sperm motility
• Improving semen volume
• Improve sperm quality (morphology)
• Decreasing stress
• Increasing the libido
• Strengthening the immune system
• Improve sperm quality (morphology)
• Decreasing stress
• Increasing the libido
• Strengthening the immune system
* 1.Acupuncture For Prebirth Treatment: An Observational Study Of Its Use In Midwifery Practice. Debra Betts, RN and Sue Lennox, MA 2.Acupuncture Treatment For Infertile Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection. Sandra L. Emmons, MD and Phillip Patton, MD 3.Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy Wolfgang E. Paulus, M.D.,[a] Mingmin Zhang, M.D.,[b] Erwin Strehler, M.D.,[a] Imam El-Danasouri, Ph.D.,[a] and Karl Sterzik, M.D.[a] Christian- Lauritzen-Institut, Ulm, Germany Summer 2011
Can acupuncture be used to treat infertility?
Acupuncture, frequently combined with herbal medicine, has been used for centuries to treat some but not all causes of infertility. For example, acupuncture and herbs will not work to address tubal adhesions which can occur as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. However, in this situation, an individual could still benefit from acupuncture and herbs because of the potential effect of improved ovarian and follicular function. Additionally, acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining.
When should acupuncture treatment begin?
Acupuncture is similar to physical therapy in that it is a process-oriented method of medical intervention. It is better to do more than less. Patients are commonly treated for three to four months before progressing to insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or donor-egg transfer. This pacing of treatment seems to have a therapeutic effect.In a study by Stener-Victorin et al from the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology Fertility Centre, Scandinavia and University of Gothenburg, women are encouraged to receive acupuncture treatments pre and post embryo transfer.
When should I stop getting acupuncture?
Typically most miscarriages occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Consequently, treatment of patients may often last through week twelve to help prevent miscarriage.
Are the acupuncture points different after an insemination, IVF, or donor-egg transfer than before?
Acupuncturists should not place needles in the abdomino-pelvic area after insemination or transfer. There are 6 contraindicated acupuncture points which should be avoided when the patient is pregnant or pregnancy is suspected. These include Gallbladder 21, Stomach 12, Large Intestine 4, Spleen 6,Bladder 60, Bladder 67 and any points on the lower abdomen.
What are the risks of using acupuncture?
There are minimal risks in using acupuncture for fertility treatment. The risk of miscarriage may increase if incorrect acupuncture points are used during pregnancy. This is one reason why those choosing to include acupuncture in their treatment regimen should only be treated by an acupuncturist who specializes in treating fertility disorders. Acupuncture is generally safe regardless of a person's medical history.
What types of fertility patients typically get acupuncture?
Acupuncture can be used to treat any type of fertility disorder including spasmed tubes. Spasmed tubes are often de-spasmed with acupuncture, though blocked tubes will not respond to acupuncture. Acupuncture is often combined with herbal remedies to treat elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), repeated pregnancy loss, unexplained (idiopathic) infertility, luteal phase defect, hyperprolactinemia (when not caused by a prolactinoma), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with annovulatory cycles, and male factor including men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation.