Acupuncture and Infertility

Multiple studies show that acupuncture and infertility seem to be somehow linked. Under certain circumstances, women receiving acupuncture have a higher conception rate.

What is acupuncture? Acupuncture involves inserting extremely thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body to reduce pain, relieve headaches, relax the body, and other treatments. Now, it seems that acupuncture may well be useful for combating infertility as well.

Acupuncture has been used by some cultures for years to help treat infertility. It is normally used with some combination of herbs such as Dong Quai, False Unicorn root, Red raspberry leaves, Astragals and others. Some of the herbs have been proven throughout the years to be successful in treating infertility, others less so. The combination of acupuncture and herbs seem to make an improvement in both follicular and ovarian function.  Using acupuncture for infertility has been shown to increase the flow of blood in the endometrium which helps make a thick lining.

How Often Should Acupuncture Be Used for Infertility Treatments?

It is usually recommended that a women receive acupuncture for a period of three to four months before insemination - which can be by natural means or in vitro fertilization. Your physician and acupuncturist can give you more accurate information as studies are constantly being done to determine the circumstances and conditions best suited to result in pregnancy.

Acupuncture is thought to perform best when used by women who have a functional problem such as irregular ovulation as opposed to women who are dealing with a structural problem. Researchers are not quite sure why acupuncture helps people with infertility problems, however some acupuncture experts believe its benefits occur due to increased flow of blood to the reproductive organs and it also seems to help keep hormones level stable.

Some women use acupuncture for infertility along with other types of infertility treatments. Acupuncture can be beneficial since it can help women become more relaxed while they are involved with infertility treatments. Studies have indicated that while women are using in-vitro fertilization treatments the numbers of pregnancies increased in the studies' groups due to some women being treated with acupuncture.  

Is Acupuncture Safe for Infertility?

Acupuncture is safe as long as it is performed by a licensed acupuncturist. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has said, "There is sufficient evidence of acupuncture's value to expand its use into conventional medicine". To find a licensed and board certified acupuncturist near you, go to www.nccaom.org.  Look for an acupuncturist who specializes in using acupuncture for infertility issues.

Studies Involving Acupuncture and Infertility

A study was performed in Germany which has some interesting results. Eighty women were involved with a combination of IVF treatments and acupuncture treatments and thirty of these women became pregnant. Eighty other women in the study had received IVF treatments and did not have acupuncture and only twenty-one of these women became pregnant.

In the United States a study was performed and the results showed that fifty-one percent of the women who combined IVF treatments with acupuncture for infertility became pregnant while only thirty-six percent of the women who took IVF treatments without acupuncture were able to become pregnant.

Studies have shown there are few risks concerning taking acupuncture for infertility problems.

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