Acupuncture and Infertility

 Like Western infertility treatments, many people question if complimentary treatments, like acupuncture have an effect on pregnancy rates. Eliminating harmful substances from your diet and environment, as well as taking prenatal vitamins, is the practice in which all Western doctors encourage and support. It’s widely known that eating a well balanced diet, exercising, meditation, visualization, practicing yoga and prayer are all good things that will enhance one’s health and their quality of life; but determining whether the treatments will benefit pregnancy success rates, is still widely questioned. Acupuncture has recently gained the attention of doctors, including reproductive endocrinologists!

More than 3,000 years old, the theory behind the success of acupuncture is that we are all made up of energy (qi) and there are specific points, or meridians of energy, which run thru the body. If, at any point the qi (pronounced chee), is blocked or doesn’t flow freely through these meridians (an area of the body), then illness, disease and even infertility can occur. By stimulating these blocked areas of the meridian using thin, solid acupuncture needles, the energy flow is restored. This creates harmony in the body and will eventually resolve the illness.

In 2002, a German study on the influence of acupuncture and pregnancy, in conjunction with Western medical fertility treatment sparked enormous interest . The study suggested that if a woman with good embryos receives acupuncture twenty-five minutes before and after an embryo transfer, her chances for a positive pregnancy would increase. Scientists examined the use of acupuncture in relation to the increase of blood flow in the uterine lining; or simply put its use to relax the uterus. Their belief is because the uterus consists of muscle, it can contract and release, making the uterus more receptive to implantation. Since this study was well designed and impressive, Western doctors could medically relate to its outcome. This legitimized the use of acupuncture in their practices.

Recent studies have also found that women, who combine acupuncture with in vitro fertilization, have increased pregnancy rates unlike those who do not. Whether an individual decides to use acupuncture, in conjunction with more conventional approaches, acupuncture is a low cost, low risk treatment; which will, at the very minimum reduce stress during what can be a very painful, frustrating and emotional time.

Chronic stress, depression, anxiety and grief are only a few of the many emotions that an individual with infertility issues might exhibit. It’s common belief by both Western and Eastern doctors, that the individual’s emotional well being will clearly have an enormous effect on their health. Practitioners believe that acupuncture can help with emotional balance and stress; which will inevitably benefit the individual’s health, and hopefully increase their odds for a successful pregnancy.

When examining infertility, TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) practitioners normally recommend a well thought-out fusion of Eastern and Western approaches. The individual needs to know how it works and how it might help, what to expect and how the individual can tell if it’s working.

It’s vital that each individual seek out the opinion of their traditional practitioner, to make certain their diagnosis is understood before attempting to treat any illness, problem or issue with any complimentary therapy.

[1] W.E. Paulus, et al., “Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy,” Fertility & Sterility 77, no. 4 (2002): 721-24.