Acupuncture and Treating Infertility

It may seem like fertility treatment is a by-product of our modern, technologically advanced world. The very frontiers of high-tech science are pushed by the challenges of fertility treatment: hormones injections and IVF. And as wonderful as the advances are in helping couples to achieve their dream, the success rate is far from perfect, leaving many turning back to much older technology – the ancient Chinese art of Acupuncture.

Acupuncture is gaining acceptance as a complementary therapy to other fertility treatments, where it has proven to be especially beneficial. Studies have shown that acupuncture definitely increases the rate of pregnancy in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

A well-known German study done in 2002 followed 160 women who underwent IVF, 80 of them received acupuncture as well and 34 of those women got pregnant: a success rate of 42.5%. Of the other 80 women, those who received IVF without any acupuncture treatments, only 21 women (26.3%) became pregnant.

Another study, American, of 114 women showed that 51% of the women who had acupuncture and IVF treatments became pregnant compared to 36% of women who had IVF alone. Further analysis of the data revealed a much lower rate of miscarriage for the women who had acupuncture as well as IVF.

No one can agree on how or why this therapy works. The traditional Chinese practitioner’s explanation involves concepts such as ‘Qi’, imbalance and a restoration of harmony to the body, but according to Western medicine, the explanation is more likely to lie in brain chemistry.

However, a slightly more Western way of looking at the effects points less to the mystical Qi and more towards the solid science of brain chemistry. It has been noted that acupuncture increases production of endorphins, the body's natural "feel good" brain chemical that also plays a role in regulating the menstrual cycle, egg production and possibly ovulation.

It has also been found that acupuncture treatment for infertility increases blood supply and flow to the reproductive organs, leading to speculation about increased egg follicles and elevated hormone levels around the ovaries.

It is also possible that acupuncture could help when the lining of the uterus is too weak to maintain a pregnancy - a problem associated with miscarriage. Increased blood flow may lead to a stronger lining in the uterus better able to sustain an implanted embryo.

Unfortunately, acupuncture will not help everyone. Good candidates have functional rather than structural reasons for infertility. Where there is a structural problem - such as a blocked fallopian tube or a fibroid tumour - acupuncture is not likely to help. And, past a certain age, acupuncture has little chance of being effective.

If you are looking at acupuncture as a first or complementary treatment, make sure you find a respected practitioner, preferably one known to and in contact with your fertility doctor. Be aware that treatments can vary dramatically in length and method, as can the costs. And be sure to check that you are covered for acupuncture by examining your insurance policy carefully.

Michael Russell

Infertility Treatment - Acupuncture Can Work Wonders If You Show Faith

Acupuncture is actually a Chinese infertility medicine or some also say it Chinese acupuncture medicine that involves nonstop pains from pricking of needles. However, the perception made on acupuncture for its "not-so-effective" and painful nature is not correct, as it offers absolute relaxation and even cures from unexplained infertility.

Acupuncture seeks its origin from China, and is based on the belief of Chinese people and their methods. The Chinese people immensely believe in energy concept and its relation with body, and assume a balanced flow of energy all through the body to remain healthy. They also believe that any obstacle in the flow of that energy leads to inflammations, and it consequently paves way to ruthless pains and numerous types of diseases in the body.

It's believed that energy stream through the meridian points, thus acupuncture puts in needles in diverse parts of the body for smooth flow of energy. Inserting needles this way unblocks the energy points, and offers comfort from particular type of disease.

The infertility treatment of this nature tends to give different results for individuals and depends from person to person. For not being the natural fertility remedy, people have some misconceptions for infertility acupuncture. It is always suggested to know the right acupuncture fertility treatment and ways of acupuncture pregnancy by visiting an acupuncture clinic.

To solve infertility problem of any nature, like male infertility, female infertility or even unexplained infertility, you should visit the doctor for having the acupuncture method meant to treat you in the best possible way. Acupuncture can give you relief from all your problems like low sperm count, bad quality egg, miscarriage et al. Acupuncture brings fine results for those who have tried lots of infertility drugs with no any effective results. The therapy also goes down well with those not willing to be treated by infertility specialists at high-end cost.

Auricular, electrified or manual treatments are there in acupuncture for infertility treatment. Electrified uses electric needles while the auricular treatment makes use of needles' pricking in the ears and earlobes for female infertility. One of the herbal medicines from China, Hachimijiogan also works wonder as an acupuncture infertility treatment. The herb lessens serum prolactin level and leads to normal ovulatory cycle and pregnancy.

Overall, acupuncture infertility is a secure, simple, trustworthy and unproblematic method with almost no pains that also assures fast relief from infertility. The remedy involves the same inserting of needles in the eyebrows, earlobes, ears, eyelids and tips of the fingers. After the treatment, a relaxation period for 30 to 45 minutes follows, and such 3-4 regular sessions do wonder to your infertility problem.

Smit Mathur

Acupuncture For Infertility

In the past decade, acupuncture has gained wide acceptance in the United States as a safe and effective treatment for infertility. Major research projects have shown that acupuncture can increase the chances of conception and decrease the chances of miscarriage. Modern studies have shown that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the uterus while decreasing blood flow impedance. Despite these groundbreaking studies, many women remain uneducated and misinformed about how acupuncture can help them. In this article, I hope to explain how acupuncture can benefit women who suffer from infertility and how it can be used in conjunction with traditional treatments such as IVF.

Acupuncturists and Western doctors take a similar approach to treating infertility. They must first ask questions, examine the patient, and from this information deduce why the patient is infertile. Acupuncturists often rely on results from Western diagnostics to help them arrive at the correct treatment. For example, a patient may have been diagnosed with endometriosis and irregular FSH levels by their doctor. Armed with this information, the acupuncturist can aim to reverse the effects of endometriosis and take steps to correct FSH levels. Acupuncture has been proven to be effective for many of the major causes of infertility and has also been proven to be able to regular chemical balances in the human body. Where many western treatments often focus on reducing symptoms, acupuncture aims to fix the root of the problem.

One of the greatest advantages of acupuncture treatment is that it is especially effective when used in conjunction with traditional western treatments for infertility. Many women receive acupuncture treatment in conjunction with IVF and ICSI. A research study showed that women who receive acupuncture in conjunction with IVF doubled their chances of conception from 15.6% to 33.6%. In the same study, it was found that in the women who became pregnant after IVF treatment, those who received acupuncture treatment had a smaller chance of miscarriage.

In my personal experience, acupuncture brings many intangible benefits as well. Infertility is stressful, embarrassing, and frustrating. Many of the patients I have seen have found acupuncture to not only be an effective tool in overcoming infertility, but also to reduce stress. The endorphin inducing abilities of acupuncture help patients relax and ultimately provides better conditions for conception. Below are some testimonials from my patients:

“My husband noticed changes in my body during the first month of acupuncture, and we both felt more able to enjoy making love, and less stressed about "that time of the month” (ovulation). I drank the herbs regularly that Dr. Chen recommended. I saw changes in my basal body temperature at each cycle. In that I would not respond well to medications, based on my past history and medical test results. But I did respond well to the daily injections, produced a number of mature eggs, and got a positive pregnancy test. I feel of course extremely grateful to both Dr. Chen and to the IVF program and doctors at New York Hospital for my pregnancy. In my case the combination seemed to be essential, and opened my mind in a very positive direction about both acupuncture and the possibilities of western medicine.” -J.Y

“In July 1998, I was diagnosed with severe dysplasia of the cervix; to rule out any possibility of cervical cancer I had to go through surgery, a procedure called cone biopsya, where basically, a cone-shaped piece of my cervix was removed.

After that, my chances of getting pregnant were reduced. My cervix was not producing enough of the mucus where my husband’s sperm was supposed to survive prior to conception. At the same time we also learned that John has a very high percentage of ‘immature’ sperm, making things even more complicated. My doctor recommended to start a fertility treatment right away after we saw the results of a post-coital test: five hours after sex, there were no surviving sperms.

We wanted to have a baby very much, but we also wanted to try to conceive ‘naturally’ first. My gynecologist thought that would be a waste of time. Then, I went to visit Dr. Zhao Yang Chen, who I met a year before when she helped me to quit smoking. That was October, three months after surgery. Her diagnosis was that, at that point, I would not be able to get pregnant because my "pelvis was too crowded, there is no room for baby.”

We started a treatment based on acupuncture, massages, pelvic exercises and herb infusions. In the meanwhile, my first Pap-smears after surgery came back normal, with no sign of dysplasia. It was about December when she finally announced that my body was in a ‘perfect condition’ and ready for pregnancy.

In January, three months after starting treatment, we got pregnant (and we should not count December, as my husband was in a two-week business trip during my ovulation). Indeed it has been a stress-and-frustration-free fertility treatment. Dr. Chen helped us to ‘pleasantly’ conceive this baby and we can only be grateful to her.”
-J.G

Eileen Chen