As an ancient and holistic approach, acupuncture has been proven to be a safe, drug free, accessible treatment option for pre-baby self care, conception, maintaining a healthy pregnancy and in difficulty conceiving. If you’re thinking about having a baby and are curious about what acupuncture can assist you with, lets get you informed on the basics of acupuncture for fertility.
Some Positive Effects of Acupuncture Treatments for Fertility include:
- Increasing blood flow to reproductive organs in both partners
- Creating balanced hormone levels which in turn produces a larger number of follicles
- Regulating a woman’s cycle to create a consistent ovulation period
- Improving the uterine lining to encourage a successful implantation
- Increasing the quality of eggs being released
- Reducing FSH levels (follicle stimulating hormone)
- Increasing a guys count, shape and mobility of sperm
- Has been shown to decrease the chance of a miscarriage
How does Acupuncture Treat Infertility?
Acupuncture has been proven to affect the function of the:
- Central Nervous System: responsible for the the control of our thought processes, movement, and provides sensation throughout the body
- Endocrine System: in charge of hormones and chemical substances produced in the body that regulate the activity of our cells or organs.
By utilizing treatment to prescribed points, Acupuncture works to detox the body from chemicals, medications, and substances enhancing the body’s likelihood of conception while directly regulating the Ovarian Hormonal Axis; a system that works together to regulate development, reproduction, ageing and many other body processes. Promoting an increase of blood flow to the pelvic areas treatments create a refresh to the ovaries, uterus and testicles which is essentially important for conception.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine conditions of poor blood flow and energetic congestion relate to signs and symptoms which may be contributing factors to fertility issues.
These conditions may include:
- Amenorrhea
- Painful periods
- Discomfort during sex
- PMS
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Tubule blockage
- Uterine fibroids
- Clotting
- Migraines with menstral cycles
- Increased follicle stimulating hormone
- Poor quality of sperm
How long does it generally take to get Pregnant when using Acupuncture for Infertility?
Compared to many fertility medications that provide a powerful affect over a short duration, acupuncture is more subtle and accumulative, producing significant long lasting results.
It can take a minimum of three months (and cycles) to regulate a woman’s hormonal system regardless of age. As there is a four-phase cycle of menstruation (follicular, ovulation, luteal, menstruation) hormonal adjustments are made during each week of the cycle. Usually, women conceive anywhere between 6 to 12 months with a consistent treatment schedule.
However, if acupuncture is used with assisted reproductive technology such as IVF, the treatment period varies depending on the success of the procedure.
Suggested Acupuncture Visit Cycles:
One Visit Per Week : for woman preparing their bodies for conception, coming off birth control, having mildly irregular cycles, those without a diagnosis related to infertility.
Two Visit’s Per Week: for an absence of a period, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, endometriosis, poor responders, for woman over 35 and male factor infertility
How do you know if Acupuncture Treatments are Working?
If you are currently not taking any hormones, you can take your basal body temperature every morning when you first wake up. It’s not a fool proof method of detecting ovulation, but it will give you an idea of your hormone fluctuation patters. By observing changes from month to month during treatment, it can help you measure your progress and consistency.
Acupuncture treatment focuses on improving your overall health. After receiving a series of treatments many experience easier menses, a decrease or stop of PMS, increases energy, decreased anxiety and better quality of sleep. When your body is aligned and healthy – conception is generally not far behind.
How does Acupuncture Compliment Western Medicine in the treatment of Infertility?
Many patients receive Acupuncture while undergoing IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) or IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination) treatments. Acupuncturists have specialized training to enhance Western treatments and work towards increasing your success rate even further while also minimizing the side affects you may be experiencing from IVF medication.
It’s recommended that patients begin receiving acupuncture once or twice a week, two to three months prior to an IVF procedure. This allows the body to regulate the central nervous system and hormonal systems creating an increase in the quality of the follicles, uterine blood circulation, thickening of the uterine lining and improving egg quality before retrieval and embryo transfer. Ultimately, enhancing the ability for implantation.
