What is the connection between acupuncture and fertility? Can acupuncture help treat infertility?

Before we get into this subject, let’s look at acupuncture and what it is exactly.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese form of medicine that is used to treat a wide range of ailments and medical problems. The theory behind this form of healing is that there are specific points in the body, called acupuncture points, which help to regulate different functions of the body. By stimulating these points, those particular functions can be enhanced and so a medical problem is relieved. Ultra-thin needles are inserted into the acupuncture points during an acupuncture therapy session.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries as a form of healing and continues to be practiced today by many alternate medicine practitioners. It is common for acupuncture to be used in conjunction with other alternative treatments. It is used to treat infertility by addressing the possible problems that could be causing the infertility, such as thyroid problems, either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Infertility is one of the problems that acupuncture has traditionally been used for, and is often combined with herbal medicine. Acupuncture can increase the blood flow to the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) to improve its condition, thus making it better able to support attachment by an embryo. Acupuncture has also been shown to improve both follicular and ovarian function.

The use of acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating elevated levels of follicle stimulating hormone, repeated miscarriage, luteal phase defect, polycystic ovary syndrome, unexplained infertility and fallopian tube spasms.

Many patients have had a course of acupuncture for several months prior to IVF (in vitro fertilization), insemination or donor egg transfer, and this length of treatment appears to be a beneficial time frame.

Research carried out at the University of Gothenburg and the Fertility Center, Scandinavia, found that women were helped by receiving acupuncture both pre-embryo transfer and post-embryo transfer. Observations in a study at the Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness suggested that the most effective treatments for fertility were a combination of herbal medicine, acupuncture and traditional medical intervention. Even without the medical intervention, conception was still enhanced by herbal medicine combined with acupuncture.

Because the most common time for miscarriage is during the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy, the recommended duration for acupuncture treatments is from three or four months prior to attempted conception until after the three month mark has been passed. Continuing acupuncture until the threat of miscarriage has passed helps to prevent miscarriage from occurring.

The acupuncturist will alter the acupuncture points after IVF, insemination or donor-egg transfer. There are six acupuncture points that should be avoided when there is a possibility of pregnancy, as needles should not be placed anywhere in the abdominal or pelvic area. The points that are contra-indicated are the Bladder 67, Bladder 60, Spleen 6; Large Intestine 4, Stomach 12 and Gallbladder 21.

The risks of acupuncture for fertility are minimal, the main risk being miscarriage if incorrect acupuncture points are used on someone who is pregnant. For this reason, it is advisable to seek an acupuncturist who is experienced in fertility problems. You should always tell a practitioner that there is a chance you could be pregnant, when you go for any type of treatment.