Fertility Acupuncture

Infertility is a problem facing thousands of individuals.  Whether you’re trying to conceive on your own or with a partner, it can wreak havoc on your emotions and on your finances.  With technology offering so many options these days, people can go to the ends of the earth trying to boost fertility and successfully carry a pregnancy.  It’s possible to purchase an egg, buy sperm, rent a uterus and end up with a baby…Now, these may be the most extreme measures to conceive, but for many they may seem to be the last available options.

The struggle with infertility entails a great deal of time invested, emotional suffering and physical stress.  Couples undergo an array of blood work, physical analysis, hormone testing, scans, procedures and possibly surgery to determine the infertility culprit.  Oftentimes hormones are administered to boost follicular development and provoke ovulation.  Women, in particular, appear to undergo a test of endurance in how much their bodies can handle when pumped full of medication.  Of course, all this comes with a hefty price tag.

Modern medicine is truly a wonderful commodity but it’s important that patients are aware of other options to improve fertility and enhance their chance of conception.  So, before you borrow from your 401K to fund an IVF cycle, consider boosting your fertility in an affordable and natural way.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine is a valuable and under-utilized resource in assisting those trying to conceive.  This holistic medicine takes into account the imbalances that exist in all systems of the body, not just the reproductive system.  Fertility is not an isolated aspect of a person, rather it is a part of the whole.  Harmonizing the body on every level by addressing diet, lifestyle, emotions, and stress all factor in to regulating the reproductive system and enhancing fertility.  Patients are encouraged to invest some time in improving their own health before conceiving.  In fact, the most favorable results can be seen after a minimum of 3 months of regular acupuncture treatment and dietary/lifestyle alterations.

If you feel like you don’t have a few months to prepare, it’s still worth making changes with whatever time you have.  If you are preparing to undergo IVF or any assisted reproductive technique, such as an IUI, it’s not too late to begin acupuncture treatment.  In fact, studies have shown that fertility acupuncture boosts IVF success rates by 40-60%!  It’s well worth adding acupuncture as a strategy to significantly increase your chance of conception.

Specifically, research has demonstrated that acupuncture can increase overall sperm production, boost the quantity of healthy sperm and improve sperm motility.   Acupuncture also encourages follicular development, enhances blood flow to thicken the endometrial lining, encourages embryo implantation and reduces the likelihood of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies.  Regular acupuncture treatment has even been shown to improve the responsiveness of those who have responded poorly to IVF in the past.  Additionally, the calming effect helps to alleviate stress and anxiety.  Given the option, why not feel more relaxed and enhance your sense of wellbeing while moving toward parenthood?   When the baby arrives, you’ll sure wish you relaxed when you had the time!