Acupuncture and Infertility Information
Acupuncture and Infertility
Acupuncture is a technique that has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of medical conditions. Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny needles into certain areas of the body, along energy spots thought to regulate body function and promote physical and mental balance. Specifically, it can help to regulate blood flow, release endorphins, and stimulate the central nervous system.
Often combined with herbs, it has been used successfully in the East for many years as a natural pain reliever and cure for many ailments.
How can acupuncture help with infertility? Research has been uncovering that acupuncture is indeed an effective treatment for infertility. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been taken seriously by Western medical professionals until just recently. In April 2002, German researchers conducted a study of 160 women undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilization). Half the women involved were given two acupuncture treatments, one before their IVF procedures, and one after.
Results showed a much higher pregnancy success rate among the women who received the acupuncture treatments over those who did not. Additionally, of those who did get pregnant, fewer of the women who had undergone the acupuncture treatments experienced miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies.
But how does acupuncture work with your body to treat infertility? One way it proves to be effective is by regulating the body’s system. It increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including the organs. Increased blood flow to the uterus proves to be particularly effective, as it helps to thicken the lining in the endometrium, creating the best environment for implantation. A thick lining will improve the odds of carrying an egg to term.
Acupuncture can also help with infertility by regulating hormone levels and increasing ovarian production. Therefore, when combined with fertility treatments such as IVF, it increases the odds of fertilization by providing optimum conditions and increased blood flow in the body. Additionally, acupuncture can be used to treat spasmed tubes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and can decrease the odds of miscarriage.
Even men can benefit from acupuncture because it may help to increase their sperm production. It has also been shown to have positive effects on men with sperm DNA fragmentation.
Combined with traditional methods for treating infertility, acupuncture has been shown to be a highly effective technique that more and more people are integrating into their treatment regimen. Once thought to be a pseudoscience by Western scientists, it is now being accepted as a valid, valuable method that has helped countless people achieve their dream of conception. Couples who were once discouraged and hopeless are now able to start their own families.
If you would like to try acupuncture, make sure you choose a doctor who is licensed and experienced in the art of acupuncture. This doctor should also be experienced in treating infertility. Just remember to take proper precautions: consult your doctor before taking any herbs that may interfere with your IVF drugs.
Also, before continuing your acupuncture treatment, make sure you are not already pregnant. In rare cases, acupuncture can result in a miscarriage.
