MyFertilityGuide

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine in which long, sterile needles are inserted just below the skin into different points on the body. These points correspond to meridians or channels of energy which flow through the body. The points are chosen according to their affect on different parts of the body as different meridians open up blocked energy flow and allowing healing to occur.

In a nutshell, from a Chinese medical perspective, channels of energy, called meridians, run through the body and over its surface. Obstructed movement in a meridian causes energy to build up in some areas of the body, while depriving other areas. Placing needles on certain sites unblocks these so-called obstructions. Modern scientific theory supposes that needles stimulate the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and brain, promoting the body to heal itself.

Is Acupuncture a Viable Treatment for Infertility?

For centuries, acupuncture has been used to treat certain issues that cause infertility such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. In conjunction with herbal medicine and other traditional Chinese medicines, acupuncture can benefit both men and women who suffer from infertility by improving blood flow and circulation.

How Long Should Acupuncture Treatment for Infertility Last?

Acupuncture is not a quick-fix treatment. It is a process that works through practice. Patients are encouraged to start acupuncture treatments for infertility as soon as they think they may have a problem. Conventional doctor visits can help pinpoint the exact issue and with that diagnosis, acupuncture may be able to treat the cause.

If assisted reproduction treatment is chosen, recipients and donors should begin weekly acupuncture treatments three or four months prior. Recipients of embryos via in vitro fertilization should continue treatments after the transfer is complete. Should pregnancy result, it is recommended to continue treatments through the 12th week. An effective infertility treatment plan combines acupuncture with the traditional medicine, and herbal medicine, though it is possible to conceive with acupuncture and herbal medicine alone.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

No. The needles barely pierce the skin and few patients even feel it when they are placed.

Who Can Benefit From Acupuncture Infertility Treatment?

Men and women who suffer from infertility-causing disorders such as chronic miscarriage, unexplained infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, anovulation, elevated follicle stimulating hormone and more. Put another way, acupuncture infertility treatments are most effective for those with fertility issues that are defined as functional as opposed to structural. For example, a damaged ovary is a structural issue but an ovary that produces a viable egg every other cycle is a functional issue.