Couples struggling with infertility often feel they are riding an emotional roller coaster. If you add hormone treatments to the already emotionally charged situation of wanting, hoping and waiting for a baby you often make a difficult situation even more intense. Recent scientific research concludes that acupuncture increases the chances of becoming pregnant.
One of the benefits of using acupuncture for infertility is that it allows you to avoid or minimize the undesired side effects of drugs and invasive procedures. Couples use acupuncture and herbs alone and also in combination with western medicine. The best approach varies depending on the individual. Chinese medicine treats the whole body not just the symptoms. In strengthening a person's general health it can make IVF, ZIFT, GIFT, AHT, IUI AND TET procedures more effective.
Acupuncture is thousands of years old. It is the oldest form of continuously practiced medicine in the world. In Chinese medical literature, it was recognized as early as 11 AD, that acupuncture and herbs were effective in treating infertility.
Recently, Dr. Raymond Chang of Cornell University concluded after reviewing the research that acupuncture helps to regulate ovulation, reduce stress and improve blood flow to the reproductive organs, all of which should increase the chances of conception. Better blood flow to the uterus improves the lining and provides better nourishment. Dr. Chang uses the analogy of using good soil in your garden in order to help things grow.
Other studies support his conclusions:
Gerhard et al. 1992: Infertility-auricular acupuncture, looked at 90 women with infertility due to hormonal disorders. 45 women received acupuncture and 45 received traditional hormone treatment. Women who received only acupuncture had the same pregnancy rate as those who received hormone treatment. The women who received acupuncture, however had a lower rate of miscarriage and a lower rate of side effects.
Andrologia, 32(1):31-9 2000 concluded that acupuncture may improve sperm densitiy in men with low sperm count.
Xiaoming et al. 1993: Undefined anovulation, Chen et al 1991: Anovulation-polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and Stener-Victorin et al 2000: EA-Anovulation-PCOS, these three studies all support acupuncture as potentially beneficial to women with PCOS and anovulation.
Stener-Victorin et al 1996: EA and uterine artery blood flow impedance concludes that acupuncture improves uterine blood flow.
COMMON QUESTIONS
1. How do you determine how many treatments are needed?
The factors you look at in evaluating how many treatments a person may need include: age, structural vs functional infertility, whether the partner is a co-factor in the cause of infertility, timing and consistency of treatments, willingness to modify diet and exercise routines, whether Chinese herbs or vitamin supplements are applicable and taken, whether combining conventional reproductive techniques, and the overall health of the individual.
2. How long should I stay in treatment?
A healthy (from a traditional eastern medical perspective) person should expect to be in treatment for 6-9 months. Between the 6-9th month of consistent treatment it is appropriate to evaluate. As a wise person once said to me "No hurry, worry. Advise the patient to be patient".
