Acupuncture for Infertility

Since I became pregnant, I’ve come into contact with many women who have shared the journey of motherhood – the joy, excitement, and pure magic of the experience.

At the same time, I’ve also become acutely aware of the other side of the story – the many women who have tried to conceive without success, and those who have suffered heartbreaking miscarriages…

The journey to motherhood is beautiful, but can be challenging as well.

It’s estimated that about 10 percent of couples have difficulty getting pregnant. Many seek out fertility treatments in order to help them, while others explore alternative options, such as Chinese medicine.

In this post, I’ll share how acupuncture, one of the core pillars of Chinese medicine, can help enhance the chances of conception. Perhaps in a future post, I’ll discuss Chinese herbal remedies as well.

How Acupuncture Treats Infertility

Acupuncture has been around for many thousands of years, but only recently has it become an acceptable alternative therapy in the U.S.

Many people are aware that acupuncture is helpful with pain issues, but fewer know that it’s also very useful in treating internal issues, such as infertility.

Correct Imbalances in the Body

Infertility is commonly caused by certain imbalances in the body, especially in the reproductive system. Acupuncture, a drug-free therapy, can help correct those imbalances and enable the body to function at a higher level.

Remove Stagnation in the Reproductive Organs

In treating fertility related issues, acupuncture is also used to remove stagnation in the reproductive organs and improve the energy and blood flow to the pelvic region.

This not only improves the chances of getting pregnant, but also helps to maintain the pregnancy for the full term.

Research Proves That Acupuncture is Valid for Infertility

According to New Hope Fertility Center, research shows a strong link between acupuncture and increased fertility.

“In 2002, a published study showed a marked difference in success rates between women who received acupuncture during IVF and women who did not receive that treatment. 34 pregnancies resulted in the 80 women who used acupuncture vs. 21 pregnancies in the group of women who did not receive acupuncture.”

How Acupuncture Improves Fertility

For those who may question the scientific validity of acupuncture and fertility, research performed at the Cornell Medical Center in New York has found that acupuncture can improve fertility in the following ways:

• It improves ovulation cycles by regulating the menstrual cycle
• It helps to reduce the stress hormones that can interfere with the ovulation process
• It balances the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to allow for the release of an egg
• It improves blood flow to the uterus, which increases the likelihood of the implantation of a fertilized egg
• For women doing IVF, acupuncture helps improve their pregnancy rates

In another study, published in Fertility and Sterility in the April 2002 edition, definitive proof was shown that acupuncture is beneficial in supporting a full-term pregnancy, especially when accompanied by other reproductive methods. It’s also interesting to note that acupuncture helps with infertility issues in women as well as men.

I hope you find this post helpful, and that it opens a new door for you to explore on your own fertility journey. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions, or if you’d like to share your personal experiences.

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